
When Shehana finds Vlora, stabbed and dying, on her rough London estate, she stops to try to help her. In so doing, she enters a world completely foreign to her own. Vlora had come to England illegally with her brother to work, and ended up a prostitute. Now Shehana must find Vlora's brotherand, with him, try to track down the killer.Shehana can't tell anyone what's going on: not her strict parents who want her to work hard at school and marry a man of their choosing; not her best friend, who would never understand; and certainly not her boyfriend. She hasn't even been able to tell him of her secret dream of going away touniversity.It seems that Vlora's brother may be the only one she can talk to. But can she trust him, and what exactly does he know about his sister's life, and her death?
After discovering a dying woman on a London estate, a teenager becomes entangled in a dangerous investigation that forces her to navigate a world far removed from her own. Shehana must balance the pressures of her strict family life and academic expectations with the clandestine search for a murder victim's brother. As she attempts to identify the killer, she faces the constant threat of exposure and the challenge of navigating a criminal underworld. The narrative follows her perspective as she struggles to maintain her secret life while pursuing the truth behind the violence she witnessed.
Readers and critics often highlight the author's ability to ground the mystery in a realistic and gritty urban environment. Discussion frequently centers on the protagonist's internal conflict as she navigates the divide between her domestic life and the dangerous reality of the streets. Many observers note the effectiveness of the pacing, which maintains suspense while addressing serious social themes. The book is recognized for its authentic depiction of London and the complex pressures faced by young people in marginalized communities. Readers appreciate the balance between the central murder investigation and the character-driven elements of the story.
Page Count:
176
Publication Date:
2007-04-05
ISBN-10:
019275498X
ISBN-13:
9780192754981
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