Em Bailey, The Special Ones, Hardie Grant Egmont, 1 April 2016, 320pp., $19.99 (pbk), ISBN: 9781742976280
Esther is one of the four Special Ones. They are teenagers living in an isolated country farmhouse with no electricity or running water, and grow or raise all their own food. To their online followers they live perfect, simple lives and are role models and advisors. But all is not as it seems. It has been a long time since Esther believed she was Special, she has come to realise she is a prisoner of a dangerous madman. As she struggles to keep up the pretense, things begin to unravel.
This is a tense and terrifying story, and utterly riveting. It is very hard to put this book down, especially during the second half. The perpetrator’s background is slowly revealed in flashbacks, revealing what he is capable of and thereby raising the tension, which is expertly built throughout the book. It all builds to a heart-stopping climax which will have readers on the edge of their seats. This book will be enjoyed by older teens and even adult fans of the thriller genre. Recommended, particularly for upper secondary and public libraries.
Reviewed by Rebecca Kemble
- Read Sharon Smith’s review of The Special Ones
