Lucas Findlay thinks he has struck gold when he marries Rebecca, but she married him for one reason only – to destroy him.
TRAUMA RUNS DEEP
When her past comes back to haunt her, Rebecca begins to disconnect from herself and the world around her. As secrets are unearthed, she begins to fear for her sanity… and her life.
TRUTH WILL OUT
With her world unravelling around her, Rebecca clings to her determination to make Lucas pay, whatever the cost.
FORGIVE HIS SINS
But someone must pay for the sins of the father…
A chilling page-turner from a sharp new Scottish voice.
Sins of the Father was the BBNYA 2021 silver medallist and I'm delighted to have finally read the book, it's been on my tbr pile for far too long! Many thanks to Sharon Bairden, Red Dog Press, the BBNYA and The Write Reads for sending me a digital copy of the novel.
I received this book to read and review as part of the 2021 BBNYA competition and the BBNYA tours organised by the TWR Tour team. All opinions are my own, unbiased and honest.
BBNYA is a yearly competition where Book Bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors. If you are an author and wish to learn more about the BBNYA competition, you can visit the official website www.bbnya.com or twitter @bbnya_official.
The sign-ups for the 2022 BBNYA competition, for authors to enter their books, or for bloggers wanting to be part of the new panel, are now open – see here!
The stunning cover and chilling blurb leave little room for doubt that Sins of the Father is a dark, harrowing read. Nevertheless, I think it's still worth reiterating that there are some difficult themes explored here, particularly child sex abuse and so there will be some people who understandably find it too traumatic to read. That said, while the abuse is never sanitised, it's not described graphically or gratuitously and it's evident throughout that Sharon Bairden's intent is to examine the enduring psychological trauma inflicted on the victims of these despicable crimes.
The first part of the book is desperately bleak as it follows young Rebecca, a child whose mother's descent into addiction is followed by her own traumatic unravelling – both physically and mentally – as the men who first preyed on her mum's needs turn their attention to her. It is obvious what is happening to Rebecca, including what her mind is doing as some sort of wretched, drastic coping mechanism and it's deeply upsetting to understand what this poor child is going through. As she enters the care system, she experiences the worst of the people who work within it as well as those whose intentions are kind and honourable. However, this isn't a book which glosses over the affect of abuse and Sharon Bairden vividly portrays just how damaged Rebecca is by the violence and neglect she has suffered.
Part two is set several years later when Rebecca is an adult, now working in the third sector. To the outside world, it would seem as if she has turned her life around; she is well-respected in her job, married to a man who works in a similar field and they share a beautiful home. However, it is immediately revealed to the reader that appearances can be deceptive and what goes on behind closed doors is dark and shocking. These chapters starkly continue the overarching depiction of mental health trauma but with the introduction of other characters, whose storylines are also featured as they intersect with one another, this also becomes a twisted, disturbing tale of bitter revenge.
It's difficult to call any of the main characters likeable; they are all so utterly consumed by what they have seen, done or failed to act upon but as past and present collide, I felt this was a raw and honest recognition of how lives and minds are torn apart by abuse. Rather than presenting her victims as bowdlerised versions of themselves, Sharon Bairden allows them to be tormented and vengeful. This is a work of fiction, of course, and so there is inevitably some dramatic license when it comes to coincidences but I felt the authenticity comes through the characterisation rather than the situation they are in so it worked for me. I guessed some of the revelations but I wasn't disappointed because the clues are there and as the novel reaches its conclusion, the narrative becomes increasingly chaotic, with an ending which means I'd be more inclined to describe Sins of the Father as psychological noir rather than a flat-out thriller.
It perhaps seems distasteful to state a book like this is enjoyable, so instead I'll say that it's a compellingly intense, gritty read and I have no hesitation in recommending it. I look forward to reading more from this talented new voice in crime fiction.
Sins of the Father is published by Red Dog Press and can be purchased directly from their website or from bookshop.org, Waterstones and Amazon but please support independent bookshops when possible.
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