In ALL HER FAULT by Irish author Andrea Mara, Marissa Irvine arrives at 14 Tudor Grove to collect her 4 year old son, Milo, from a play date, only to discover the occupant is a stranger who knows nothing about her son.
Its a scenario that becomes ever more nightmarish when it’s clear there has been no simple mistake. Jenny, with whom Marissa organised the play date over text, claims to know nothing about the plan, and when there is no forthcoming ransom demand, the police have few leads to follow. The longer Milo remains missing, the higher the tension rises. The author develops plenty of plausible red herrings as suspicion falls on strangers and those closest to the Irvine’s alike. Cleverly, though the identity of the abductor is eventually revealed, their motivation remains obscure, until a final shocking reveal happens that i didn’t see coming. A couple of the twists are a bit of a stretch but in general I thought ALL HER FAULT was well plotted.
Mara’s portrayal of Marissa’s journey from confusion through to panic and despair is brilliantly portrayed. Its inconceivable not to empathise with her devastation, and her determination to find her son. Gossip and speculation run rampant as the school gossip mill churns as the news of Milo’s kidnapping spreads. There are some particularly passive-aggressive characters– school gateway mom’s and a dad– who are eager to suggest Marissa is somehow to blame for the tragedy. Jenny is the only one who reaches out to Marissa and offers genuine support, despite her unwitting role in the abduction.
This is an absolutely cracking good read. Its hard not to be invested from the very beginning, commanding your attention to the very last page. The hook and barbs stick deep from the start. Its set in a very posh, conservative part of Dublin with class and race issues circulating amongst parents at Milo ‘s school which helps fuel the rumours and suspicions that rise without factual evidence. The author makes comments intimating that it’s always the poor, non-white people who are first to be in the firing line when a crime like this happens. The resolution proves that the accusations and attitudes are incredibly dangerous and should never be taken seriously when there is scant evidence to go with.
The mother of Jacob, who Milo was supposed to play date with, is despised by Deline, her mother-in-law, a dragon-like matriarch who cant fathom why Jenny would want a life away from her family. The gossip crew, known as The Coven, are a group of parents who love nothing more than to spread misinformation and speculate on the lives of others. Their conversations are rarely true, but hint to what is really going on. This is something the author does brilliantly.
There is another story going on behind the scenes involving the suspects’ mother. This unique perspective on this mysterious person’s childhood and relationship with her own family slides smoothly with the horror of the main plot. Mara may have touched on the Holy Grail of thrillers with an unguessable ending.
ALL HER FAULT is a well-plotted, intricate novel with love/hate characters, fast paced with a constant threat in the air that you feel the need to run from. Its a gripping read.
