Give Him To Me by Dorothy Koomson
Robyn ‘Avril’ Managa is seeking to avenge her mother’s death at the hands of her controlling and abusive father. Placed in care whilst her well connected father was given a new life, Robyn wants answers – even if other people have to die to get them. It’s down to Dr Kez Lanyon to deal with Robyn…
Give Him To Me book review & synopsis
Give Him To Me is a stunning read. It is packed with surprises, brilliantly written and entwines the two perspectives of Kez and Robyn together as if they are strands of the same DNA. Their first person voices are strong and distinct and I loved the occasional asides to the reader from Kez as it ensnared me further into a gripping story.
The plot is twisty, exciting and convincing. There are references to the first book featuring Dr Kez Lanyon, but they are included with such skill that this stand-alone book works flawlessly. Without wishing to resort to cliché, this is a story that is a real page turner, being fast paced, thrilling and unsettling. I was spellbound.
Kez Lanyon is a magnificent character. She’s bright, sassy, caring, intelligent and actually quite flawed. She’s occasionally wrong in her assessments, making her highly realistic, and she is foolhardy in putting herself in danger for the good of others. As a result she feels exactly the kind of person you want on your side and it’s impossible not to care about her. I loved the undercurrent of feminism and the celebration of a strong Black woman that runs beneath the plot through Kez’s personality.
With the consequences of domestic abuse at the heart of the story, Give Him To Me feels recognisable and accessible to a modern world. However, Kez’s job and the unit she works for add a fascinating layer that has mystery and intrigue. With the care system, family, guilt and friendship as other themes, this is a narrative that surprises, entertains and has huge emotional depth. It’s actually quite sexy in places too!
Dorothy Koomson has the unerring ability to look right into the soul of who we are to discover why we behave as we do, and she presents her findings in gripping, mesmerising stories. Give Him To Me is a perfect example. It really is a fabulous thriller.
Give Him To Me by Dorothy Koomson is out now (Bantam, HB, £16.99).
Read more fiction reviews by Linda Hill including Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney, A Skye Full of Stars by Sue Moorcroft, Foster’s Mill by Val Wood, All I Want For Christmas by Karen Swan, City of Silk by Glennis Virgo, Things We Lose In Waves by Lucy Ayrton and Beautiful People by Amanda Jennings.
