The story follows the life of Mackenzie (Mac), inappropriately named after one of her father’s many lovers. As a small child on holiday in France with her parents and sister; she is like any other six year old. But the sudden disappearance of her mother and sister leaves Mackenzie in the care of her bitter, selfish father. Mac never learns the truth about her mother’s disappearance and holds on to the misguided belief that one-day she will return. After father and daughter return to England a broken family, Mac’s father, Gabriel descends into bouts of drinking while wallowing in his own grief. He provides Mac neither love nor sustenance. Hayes invites the reader to witness the horrors of this young child’s life as she tries to fend for herself in the neglected environment. Mac learns to survive and lives in solitude until the gregarious Katrina enters her life.

Katrina adds a positive aspect to Mac’s existence. Not only does she offer friendship but she encourages the timid Mac to take more risks. Katrina is instrumental in helping Mac endure her father’s indifference. Their relationship is central to Mac’s story, but the bond begins to dissolve when Mac meets Richard, a self assured, single minded male who is determined to take complete control of Mac’s life.

Richard demonstrates early on in the story a cruel and manipulative nature and he soon persuades Gabriel, that he can take over full care of Mac. Gabriel sees this as an opportunity to be rid of her once and for all and the confused Mac falls head first into this destructive relationship. She is at first flattered by Richard’s attention and later she too sees their marriage as an escape from the life with her father.

Richard provides Mac the perfect life in a material sense, but behind closed doors the relationship proves to be more horrific than the life she has left behind.

The novel opens with Katrina in a mental institution and part of the story is told through her eyes in the first person. Some of the relationships in the hospital are beautifully drawn and grow through the pages. Notably that between Katrina and Pip, the nurse who breaks the rules to help her and between Katrina and a fellow patient Kevin, whose bond for each other is cleverly depicted.

The novel is written from many different perspectives. Both the first and third person is used with past and present tenses, but at no time does the plot confuse. Hayes tantalises the reader with tit-bits of new information as each chapter progresses. Like a dot-to-dot puzzle, the reader is given the opportunity link the information together then colour it in the gaps.

The backgrounds of the characters are constructed throughout the piece. At first it may not be apparent why a character reacts in a particular way, but their actions will be explained, as their history is unveiled. Once all of the pieces of information are revealed Hayes leads the reader into the last section of the story which races forward to a neat, if somewhat convenient, ending.

The book is clever and often disturbing, offering the reader an insight into the working of the mind. Hayes uses graphic images to display issues of cruelty, self-abuse and pain and describes how often unavoidable events can mould the mind. The characters are all rich and alive, particularly those of Mac, Katrina and Gabriel. This is a novel that intrigues the reader to discover more about the characters from page one by hinting at the story rather than telling. It will often yank the reader to places in the mind and behind closed doors they would prefer to ignore.

Moira McPartlin currently lives in Glasgow , but travels extensively with work. She started writing three years ago to relieve the boredom of airport lounges. She enjoys writing short stories and her passion for mountaineering and travel provides plenty of material for non fiction articles. Moira has yet to have any work published, but lives in hope. She is currently working on her first novel.

© 2004 Laura Hird All rights reserved.