Looking for a new book to lose yourself in? Don't worry, I've got your back. The new novel by Gertrude. T. Kitty has thrills, spills (the main character is a bit clumsy), and lots of tension. It's a binge worthy murder mystery that will keep you guessing.
Words and photographs by Rosa Fairfield
The Rebirth of Henry Whittle tells the story Phoenix, a teenager who's lost her parents and experienced a number of personal tragedies. She hopes her life will change for the better when her uncle, Henry Whittle, offers her a home. But, Henry isn't all he seems and when a local boy turns up murdered, Phoenix is left to question her safely.
So, now we have a summery, let's move on to the juicy stuff...
This is the second novel by
Gertrude T. Kitty, I've read. The first novel, Random Attachment, is a similar style (a gritty teenage murder mystery). So, although they have different characters, they're great to read as a pair. There's even a little nod to
Random Attachment in this book, which made me smile.
One thing I really love about this book, is that it's told from different perspectives. So, even though the main character is a teenager you can still relate to it if you're an adult. You also get to understand what's going on in the different character's heads. The old saying of: you only get one side of the story, is thrown out the window.
The main characters are also beautiful developed and wonderfully grey, (nope, I'm not saying they always wear grey clothes). Each character has their screw-ups and sometimes they do things that make you go: hang on a second, that isn't right. That makes them seem all the more real and relatable. In fact, with the main teenage trio, I can say I've know people like each of them. I'm not going to name names (that would be a massive invasion of privacy), but Luke with his gagster talk reminds me of a boy I once knew and Phoenix reminds me of a feisty friend.
As the story unfolds, the tension builds which hooks you in. It's definitely one of those books you end up binging. I disappeared for half the morning when I reached the final hundred pages. I was so into it, my parents thought I'd gone missing. There were a few plot twists in there that I didn't see coming, but after they'd happened I was cursing myself for not spotting them because they made perfect sense. It's a book that keeps you guessing until the very end.
If you're British, and I am, there's lots of pop culture references which make the world of the story seem all the more real. My favourite ones were the Love Island references, they were a bit of me. So, if you've ever found yourself shopping at Primark or buying M&S undies, you will relate. I do really like how there's a relatable element, the main theme of murder is something that I hope none of us have actually experienced.
So, there you have it. I'd definitely recommend giving this a read. It's a gripping story by an indie author. Although, as a final note, I should add that it has lots of adult themes so it's not a bed time story to read to your 5-year-old. The book is available for print and Kindle, on
Amazon.
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