From the author of Stonechild: Where do we go to when we die? Imagine human consciousness embedded in the molecules of a statue. So, when the statues of London come to life, it is a spectacle like none other, and they come with a specific message for our lives and an offer we cannot refuse. As the world reels in this wonder of science and religion, Molly Hargreaves has other plans, and she sets out to prove that things are not as they seem. Chased, captured, and confined, Molly confronts the statues and her own fears. But who can she convince? The people are welcoming, the government has succumbed, and the police try to act—but how do you shoot stone and metal? Be prepared to be run ragged around London on a mystery worthy of the great Sherlock Holmes.
Stonechild is a thoroughly enjoyable book. The idea of statues coming to life is fascinating, and I really had no idea what to expect when I began reading. The story jumps right into the action with a couple of alarming incidents that provide an eerie atmosphere. (Seriously, doesn’t the statue on the book cover look a bit sinister?) The plot is full of twists and turns, which make for an exciting read. Stonechild follows the teenage protagonist Molly as she tries to survive in London after all the statues come to life. Even though she is socially inept due to her privileged upbringing, she has a good head on her shoulders, and she knows how to think for herself. She definitely isn’t perfect, but her impulsive behavior and her confusion made her believable and likable. It was fun to see her get into trouble over and over again while she tried to solve the mystery of the statues’ true purpose. I especially liked how determined she was, even when the adults didn’t want to listen to her.
I confess I was somewhat confused by the behavior of the statues. Their message and their approach seemed contradictory. However, this didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story; in fact, it made them even creepier than they would have been otherwise. The resolution to the story was clever, especially since the answer was there the whole time in plain sight! I also liked how Molly’s connection with the statues was explained in a way that tied everything together so nicely. Oh, one more thing: be sure to read the epilogue…
FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book reviewed above.
Kevin Albin served 25 years with the police in the UK, eight years of which were with a tactical firearms unit. He then took a career change and retrained as an International Mountain Leader working across the globe guiding on mountaineering trips and expeditions for conservation. He has led many trips to the jungles of Borneo, his favourite destination. In 2011, he won the Bronze in the World Guide Awards. It was whilst working on a corporate training day in London where he pictured a statue coming to life to give his clients the answer to the clue they were working on. The rest grew from there...
You can learn more about Kevin and his writing on his website or through Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.
Author photograph by Stephanie Dribus
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