Matt McAvoy Book Review

This was a very tough book to read, in many ways, and I implore you to familiarize yourself before picking it up.  It wasn’t bad, by any means, but indeed very unpleasant to read; I don’t think it’s unfair or inaccurate to say that if you are sensitive to triggers relating to child sexual abuse and snuff themes, then this isn’t one for you.  In fact, and I don’t mean this to offend the author or readers, it’s difficult to ascertain who the book might particularly appeal to.  To summarize, a traumatized and abuse-hardened street-girl finds herself investigating a ring of powerful, sadistic, murderous paedophiles – and little is held back in the vividly portrayed setpieces.  It wasn’t a joy to read, I won’t lie.

That doesn’t mean it wasn’t well written.  MacDonald is a decent enough author, and desperately flawed heroine Hannah is a well layered character, with just enough vulnerability peeking through to make her bearable – but truthfully the street-hardened, tough-girl, beating-up-guys, need-no-one persona did start to grate a little.  And, being completely frank, this could be the angriest book I’ve read, with a cynicism that bites deep into its prose.  Despite all that, Out Of The Shadows does leave enough of a carrot dangling to tweak your interest in its inevitable sequel.  It is delivered clearly and honestly, though the noticeable absence of scene breaks on occasion meant the reader sometimes having to recalibrate.  But in truth it is a simple enough narrative to follow, with a touch of contemporary character casting thrown in to create a genuinely intriguing subplot involving Hannah’s transexual friend and trusted confidante.  Gloria, too, is a wonderful character, though actually I would like to have seen more of Hannah’s father (monster though he is), which I suspect will be the case in Book 2.

It's worth a read, certainly, if you like the very dark depths of Australia’s urban seedy underworld, as frequented by society’s real dregs: those of privilege and standing who prey on the vulnerable.  There are all the usual tropes one might expect to find in such a premise – i.e., powerful abusers (politicians, judges, the like), alongside tough street-trash with hearts of gold – but it is formula and it works.  Furthermore, there is definitely a market for this genre, though not my cup of tea, I have to admit.  I wish MacDonald well with the book and the series, which I’m sure will do well – though I do very much hope those trigger warnings are clearly displayed.