On a winter’s evening, a trio of unruly teenagers board a bus, ganging up on Luke Murray, hurling abuse and threatening to kill him. The bus is full but no one intervenes until Jason Barnes, a young student, challenges the gang. Luke seizes the chance to run off the bus, but he’s followed.
Andrew Barnes is dragged from the shower by his wife Valerie: there’s a fight in the front garden and Jason’s trying to break it up. As Andrew rushes to help, the gang flees. Jason shouts for an ambulance for Luke, but it is he who will pay the ultimate price.
Split Second, Cath Staincliffe’s insightful and moving novel, explores the impact of violent crime – is it ever right to look the other way?
Andrew Barnes is dragged from the shower by his wife Valerie: there’s a fight in the front garden and Jason’s trying to break it up. As Andrew rushes to help, the gang flees. Jason shouts for an ambulance for Luke, but it is he who will pay the ultimate price.
Split Second, Cath Staincliffe’s insightful and moving novel, explores the impact of violent crime – is it ever right to look the other way?
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Reviews
An engrossing read.
About as good as the British private eye novel gets.
PRAISE FOR CATH STAINCLIFFE
A book about courage and compromise, about how sometimes it's kinder and braver to lie. Stunning.
Modest, compassionate ... a solid ingenious plotter with a sharp eye for domestic detail.
Complex and satisfying.