Well-paced plot and superb landscape descriptions in which the African bush springs to life are the strong points of the book. Sadly, the mostly flat characters more than disappoint, in particular the protagonist who is not allowed to grow and develop. Yes, she undergoes a …more learning process, but this newfound knowledge doesn’t translate into a character change. The sub-plot which involves repeated sexual attacks on Rachel, becomes less and less believable because her reactions never vary. Repeatedly, the author lets her hover just within reach of her pursuer by the third time one wonders whether she actually wants to be caught and repeatedly, she approaches him rather than fleeing, going so far as to climb into his car. McVeigh gives no convincing motive for this. Repeatedly, there is a moment when her abuser drives up to her house and Rachel wonders whether she could sneak away, but she never does. At some stage the reader must suspect she doesn’t want to. Sitting on a veranda and hearing the car a distance off surely would have given her the opportunity to make herself sparse. As a rape victim myself, and knowing other rape victims, I can say that no girl who has experienced sexual molestation and fears her abuser would ever behave like Rachel. Her reactions remain totally unconvincing. Ditto her interactions with her father and stepmother; both of whom stay unchanged in spite of the tumultuous events described. That Rachel tries to get along with Sarah for her father’s sake is understandable; but the scenes playing out when he is absent are hardly believable. Would a fit 18-year-old allow her stepmother (middle-aged, inactive with a drink problem) to lock her up in the dark and not even try to escape once the door is opened? A thoroughly irritating novel. (less)