Nowhere Burning

Description

Riley and her brother Oliver have suffered innumerable tragedies in their young lives, so when the promise of an escape comes—no matter how frightening it might be—they jump at the chance to be free. Their story is the heart of Catriona Ward’s latest novel Nowhere Burning.

Nowhere Farm is infamous for a series of horrific crimes, but by the time Riley and Oliver need an escape, it is inhabited by a group of adolescents and children who care for each other like a family. The leader, a charismatic young woman named Noon, welcomes them into the close-knit community and makes them adhere to rules that, outside of Nowhere, might seem troubling. But, in this space, the place that has saved them, the rules make sense. As Riley and Oliver navigate this new life, documentarians Marc and Kimble seek to tell the story of Nowhere and the celebrity who once owned it and made it infamous.

The twists in the novel surprised me at every turn, but be warned: there is some horrific content as relates to the abuse of children. None of it is graphically depicted, but the implications are enough to turn your stomach. Still, Nowhere Burning is an excellent thriller.