China Lake by
Meg Gardiner
pbk out March 03
(Coronet)
at £6.99
Evan Delaney is shocked to find that her ex-sister-in-law, Tabitha, has become a member of The Remnant, a fanatical religious sect who believe the end is nigh – literally – and that they shall inherit the earth.
Ruthless bigots, whose tactics include chanting insults at the funerals of Aids victims, The Remnant have a message with no place for brotherly love. Their reverend Peter Wyoming is arming his flock, and their slogans and actions are becoming more and more violent. But, worse, Tabitha and her fellow disciples want to wrest custody for six-year-old Luke from Evan, who looks after him while his father is posted away with the Naval Air Warfare Centre.
Evan and her boyfriend, lawyer Jessie Blackburn, prepare to challenge the Remnant head-on – and arson, kidnap and murder ensue. Evan is a fighter: opinionated, mouthy and resilient. With energetic, punchy prose and a breathless, action-thriller plot, China Lake is an assured debut. Evan Delaney is a great character and Gardiner a writer to watch.
Manchester Evening News 24.8.02
(
Cath Staincliffe
author of the popular Sal Kilkenny mysteries set on the mean streets of Manchester)
