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btpbookclub's review against another edition
4.0
The story follows Arnold whose about to get his own taste of freedom and his own place. Whats not to love about that? However, Arnold has Down Syndrome. The story also follows another young troubled lad chip…
I must say I really loved Arnold! I felt for him. He doesn’t see the bad in people and soon realises he is in with the wrong crowd. That broke my heart. He was better and safer staying at home. I just hope this doesn’t actually happen in the real world but I guess it does.
It’s tense, edgy, chilling and full of suspense. I kept reading purely for Arnold! A real page turner. He seemed like such a real life character to me. Theres always something going on within the story to get your heart racing. Brilliantly written. Fast paced. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars and a brilliant read to get me through my chest infection!
I must say I really loved Arnold! I felt for him. He doesn’t see the bad in people and soon realises he is in with the wrong crowd. That broke my heart. He was better and safer staying at home. I just hope this doesn’t actually happen in the real world but I guess it does.
It’s tense, edgy, chilling and full of suspense. I kept reading purely for Arnold! A real page turner. He seemed like such a real life character to me. Theres always something going on within the story to get your heart racing. Brilliantly written. Fast paced. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars and a brilliant read to get me through my chest infection!
the_coycaterpillar_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Sarah for my spot on the blog tour. All thoughts are my own and unbiased.
How many times did our parents tell us never to talk to strangers? If your parents were anything like mine, it was too many times to count. This is the main theme at play in Who’s There? This is just easier said and done for a character like Arnold Eastwood, a naturally trusting young man with Downs Syndrome. He dreams of having his own independence after years living and relying on his mother. He knows he can do it. He wants to do it. The time has come, he has been offered his first flat. How hard can it be, right?
Just how dangerous can trusting anyone be? The author expertly weaves Arnold’s trusting nature with the worst vestiges of human behaviour. Manipulation, lies and deceit has the reader feeling heart wrenching emotion for Arnold. He doesn’t deserve the treatment he receives. He is a kind-hearted young man that doesn’t have the need to deceive people. What you see is what you get. I only wish that more people were like him. He truly wears his heart on his sleeve. I really enjoyed Arnold’s interaction with his boss and family. A true gentle soul.
Drug running and a young man with Down’s Syndrome…the two are just not compatible. Arnold lives next door to local drug addict, Saskia. She is a troubled soul with immense amounts of baggage. Something happened to her daughter that inevitably triggered her destructive relationship with heroin. As expected Arnold is naïve and has designs on her being his girlfriend. He’s adorably sweet to her but she’s just looking for her next fix. I feel for her, I really do. We meet Chip a runner for a much bigger and deadlier dealer called Poker. Chip is branching out and starting his own drug business under Poker. It doesn’t all go to plan. The waters getting muddier and Arnold is sandwiched in-between with no immediate way out due to his amazing character.
It isn’t straightforward, and everything isn’t as it seems. Arthur’s own family is dripping in flaws. His mother seems outrageously overprotective of him. This is to the detriment of her own physical health. I can understand fully what she thinks and feels as I am also a mother of a child of a rare genetic condition. My son was born with a segment of gene data missing from chromosome 15. This book really struck a chord with me and the author did a stellar job of pinpointing the mannerisms, the speech, the need to love and please and it made my heart warm that the author brought some much-needed awareness.
A horribly accurate telling of how naivety and manipulation come hand in hand. Terrifying and chilling. A slow burn of imminent disaster
How many times did our parents tell us never to talk to strangers? If your parents were anything like mine, it was too many times to count. This is the main theme at play in Who’s There? This is just easier said and done for a character like Arnold Eastwood, a naturally trusting young man with Downs Syndrome. He dreams of having his own independence after years living and relying on his mother. He knows he can do it. He wants to do it. The time has come, he has been offered his first flat. How hard can it be, right?
Just how dangerous can trusting anyone be? The author expertly weaves Arnold’s trusting nature with the worst vestiges of human behaviour. Manipulation, lies and deceit has the reader feeling heart wrenching emotion for Arnold. He doesn’t deserve the treatment he receives. He is a kind-hearted young man that doesn’t have the need to deceive people. What you see is what you get. I only wish that more people were like him. He truly wears his heart on his sleeve. I really enjoyed Arnold’s interaction with his boss and family. A true gentle soul.
Drug running and a young man with Down’s Syndrome…the two are just not compatible. Arnold lives next door to local drug addict, Saskia. She is a troubled soul with immense amounts of baggage. Something happened to her daughter that inevitably triggered her destructive relationship with heroin. As expected Arnold is naïve and has designs on her being his girlfriend. He’s adorably sweet to her but she’s just looking for her next fix. I feel for her, I really do. We meet Chip a runner for a much bigger and deadlier dealer called Poker. Chip is branching out and starting his own drug business under Poker. It doesn’t all go to plan. The waters getting muddier and Arnold is sandwiched in-between with no immediate way out due to his amazing character.
It isn’t straightforward, and everything isn’t as it seems. Arthur’s own family is dripping in flaws. His mother seems outrageously overprotective of him. This is to the detriment of her own physical health. I can understand fully what she thinks and feels as I am also a mother of a child of a rare genetic condition. My son was born with a segment of gene data missing from chromosome 15. This book really struck a chord with me and the author did a stellar job of pinpointing the mannerisms, the speech, the need to love and please and it made my heart warm that the author brought some much-needed awareness.
A horribly accurate telling of how naivety and manipulation come hand in hand. Terrifying and chilling. A slow burn of imminent disaster
samidan84's review against another edition
5.0
Could not put this book down! Such a fantastic read. Really opened my eyes to the devastating reality of the drug world. Thoroughly recommend!!
Definitely 5 stars from me!
Definitely 5 stars from me!
sarahs_bookish_life's review against another edition
5.0
What an eye opener this book is!
I feel like I’ve been living with my head under a stone as I really had no clue that things that happen in this novel go on in the real world. Cuckooing and County Lines I think are the correct terms, is something I hadn’t really heard of so knowing that drug dealers prey on vulnerable victims to help them in their mission to distribute illegal drugs, shocked and appalled me.
Arnold is just the sweetest of characters. His mum and sister are concerned when he is allocated his own flat in a run down area so he can live independently. To begin with we see Arnold coming into his own, proving everyone wrong and even landing himself a job. His world is such an innocent and simple one and I so wanted to grab a hold of the people that were about to change that.
The story alternates between different characters so we get to see different view points. It was again an eye opener as well as heart breaking to see not only Arnold become a victim but to see how someone who is dependent on drugs is affected as well as people that do the running for the dealers. It made me think how quick we are to judge these people without really knowing their circumstances as well as how the dealers are good at manipulating them all.
Who’s There? is a compelling read where the author uses her vast knowledge to raise awareness of a side of the drug world, that some of us are completely oblivious to. Well sad to say, I was anyway. This is a crime thriller with a heart and will have you feeling empathy for characters that like me, you may have judged to quickly. I applaud the author for writing this book and making the reader aware as well changing their mindset.
I feel like I’ve been living with my head under a stone as I really had no clue that things that happen in this novel go on in the real world. Cuckooing and County Lines I think are the correct terms, is something I hadn’t really heard of so knowing that drug dealers prey on vulnerable victims to help them in their mission to distribute illegal drugs, shocked and appalled me.
Arnold is just the sweetest of characters. His mum and sister are concerned when he is allocated his own flat in a run down area so he can live independently. To begin with we see Arnold coming into his own, proving everyone wrong and even landing himself a job. His world is such an innocent and simple one and I so wanted to grab a hold of the people that were about to change that.
The story alternates between different characters so we get to see different view points. It was again an eye opener as well as heart breaking to see not only Arnold become a victim but to see how someone who is dependent on drugs is affected as well as people that do the running for the dealers. It made me think how quick we are to judge these people without really knowing their circumstances as well as how the dealers are good at manipulating them all.
Who’s There? is a compelling read where the author uses her vast knowledge to raise awareness of a side of the drug world, that some of us are completely oblivious to. Well sad to say, I was anyway. This is a crime thriller with a heart and will have you feeling empathy for characters that like me, you may have judged to quickly. I applaud the author for writing this book and making the reader aware as well changing their mindset.
karlou's review against another edition
4.0
As the parent of teenagers living in the countryside, I have been aware of county lines drug gangs for some time. In Who’s There?, Kerena Swan has written a compelling thriller which really gets to the heart of this issue, alongside other pressing contemporary social problems such as cuckooing (where dealers exploit the more vulnerable to take over their homes) and modern day slavery.
The book’s narrative switches between various characters, with Arnold Eastwood, his sister, Lottie and a teenage boy known only as Chip, featuring most strongly. Arnold has Down’s Syndrome and is undoubtedly the real heart of the novel. He is a beautifully created character and I really appreciated how the author never patronises him. His presence is vital to the storyline and Kerena Swan’s own experiences working in social care ensures he isn’t ever a token figure. Arnold is innocent and trusting which is why others are able to take advantage of him but he is also resolute, courageous and even a bit sneaky at times. His chapters are written in the first person which mean readers really get a sense of who he is and his self-deprecating wit and honesty shines through. He is determined to live independently despite his mother’s concerns about the area his allocated flat is in and although he does become vulnerable to drug dealers, in many other ways he is actually able to manage living alone very successfully. Perhaps most crucially, he is not the only person to become a victim of the gang and Who's There? provides a stark insight into how good these people are at identifying those members of society who are easier prey for them.
This includes people like Chip who is desperate for something resembling family life. His own mother was an addict who died from a drug overdose and his father regularly beat him. At the start of the book he is already a runner for a dealer known as Poker and it's chilling to see how easily he is manipulated and tricked into becoming a slave for him. His chapters are written in the third person giving us a rather sad insight into not only his own choices but also how easy it is to judge people like him. He seems to be motivated by money and possessions and initially appears to have very little empathy for others, seeing them as a means to an end. However, there is more to Chip than just the superficial first impression and Kerena Swan cleverly leads the reader into caring as much about his outcome as that of the other, more obviously sympathetic characters.
Arnold's sister, Lottie, his mum, Linda and neighbour, Saskia all play a significant role in his life and it's fascinating to see the contrast between them. Linda is understandably over-protective of her son and it's clear she isn't ready to let him go. She is clearly a natural nurturer but at what expense to her own well-being? Meanwhile, Lottie is desperate to move in with her boyfriend, Carl but never quite seems to get the break she needs. Some of the chapters are written from her perspective and are an honest portrayal of the complex emotions that come from having a family member with special needs. Her first reaction to learning he has been allocated a flat is jealousy and she also seems to be rather judgemental of her mum. However, she is also shown to be a fierce advocate for her brother and perhaps in some ways, more in tune to his needs than Linda is. She understands his desire to make a life outside the family home because she feels the same way and although there are times when it's possible to question whether her course of action is the right one, it's always clear as to why she behaves as she does. She finds herself suddenly confronted by the darker underbelly of society and it's terrifying to recognise how out of depth many of us would be if thrust into a similar situation.
Saskia is already one of life's outcasts as a drug addict who prostitutes herself for her next fix. However, Arnold is drawn to her; there is one touching scene where she patiently helps him to learn how to tell the time. My own brother was a heroin addict so I know only too well how easy it is for people to fall through the cracks and to become overwhelmed by by a drug which powerfully convinces its users that only it provides the means to take away some of the pain for a short while. Saskia's story is an all-too common tragedy and I'm grateful to Kerena Swan for recognising humanity of addicts.
This is an unsettling look at the darker side of society that most of us are able to look away from but as Arnold's story shows, drug gangs are increasingly managing to entangle more and more people in their ever-growing webs. As the book reaches its tense and exciting conclusion, I raced through the pages wondering if he would be able to find a way out of his predicament and what the outcome would be for the other characters who I had come to care deeply about. While I couldn't claim to like the violent and controlling Poker, his contribution to the novel is absolutely vital, not just as the main villain but also as an example of how poverty and violence leads to a vicious circle, with his own upbringing making him arguably as much victim as perpetrator. Who's There? does what crime fiction does best and is a thoughtful, shocking and unbearably real reflection of the complex and frightening issues affecting modern society.
The book’s narrative switches between various characters, with Arnold Eastwood, his sister, Lottie and a teenage boy known only as Chip, featuring most strongly. Arnold has Down’s Syndrome and is undoubtedly the real heart of the novel. He is a beautifully created character and I really appreciated how the author never patronises him. His presence is vital to the storyline and Kerena Swan’s own experiences working in social care ensures he isn’t ever a token figure. Arnold is innocent and trusting which is why others are able to take advantage of him but he is also resolute, courageous and even a bit sneaky at times. His chapters are written in the first person which mean readers really get a sense of who he is and his self-deprecating wit and honesty shines through. He is determined to live independently despite his mother’s concerns about the area his allocated flat is in and although he does become vulnerable to drug dealers, in many other ways he is actually able to manage living alone very successfully. Perhaps most crucially, he is not the only person to become a victim of the gang and Who's There? provides a stark insight into how good these people are at identifying those members of society who are easier prey for them.
This includes people like Chip who is desperate for something resembling family life. His own mother was an addict who died from a drug overdose and his father regularly beat him. At the start of the book he is already a runner for a dealer known as Poker and it's chilling to see how easily he is manipulated and tricked into becoming a slave for him. His chapters are written in the third person giving us a rather sad insight into not only his own choices but also how easy it is to judge people like him. He seems to be motivated by money and possessions and initially appears to have very little empathy for others, seeing them as a means to an end. However, there is more to Chip than just the superficial first impression and Kerena Swan cleverly leads the reader into caring as much about his outcome as that of the other, more obviously sympathetic characters.
Arnold's sister, Lottie, his mum, Linda and neighbour, Saskia all play a significant role in his life and it's fascinating to see the contrast between them. Linda is understandably over-protective of her son and it's clear she isn't ready to let him go. She is clearly a natural nurturer but at what expense to her own well-being? Meanwhile, Lottie is desperate to move in with her boyfriend, Carl but never quite seems to get the break she needs. Some of the chapters are written from her perspective and are an honest portrayal of the complex emotions that come from having a family member with special needs. Her first reaction to learning he has been allocated a flat is jealousy and she also seems to be rather judgemental of her mum. However, she is also shown to be a fierce advocate for her brother and perhaps in some ways, more in tune to his needs than Linda is. She understands his desire to make a life outside the family home because she feels the same way and although there are times when it's possible to question whether her course of action is the right one, it's always clear as to why she behaves as she does. She finds herself suddenly confronted by the darker underbelly of society and it's terrifying to recognise how out of depth many of us would be if thrust into a similar situation.
Saskia is already one of life's outcasts as a drug addict who prostitutes herself for her next fix. However, Arnold is drawn to her; there is one touching scene where she patiently helps him to learn how to tell the time. My own brother was a heroin addict so I know only too well how easy it is for people to fall through the cracks and to become overwhelmed by by a drug which powerfully convinces its users that only it provides the means to take away some of the pain for a short while. Saskia's story is an all-too common tragedy and I'm grateful to Kerena Swan for recognising humanity of addicts.
This is an unsettling look at the darker side of society that most of us are able to look away from but as Arnold's story shows, drug gangs are increasingly managing to entangle more and more people in their ever-growing webs. As the book reaches its tense and exciting conclusion, I raced through the pages wondering if he would be able to find a way out of his predicament and what the outcome would be for the other characters who I had come to care deeply about. While I couldn't claim to like the violent and controlling Poker, his contribution to the novel is absolutely vital, not just as the main villain but also as an example of how poverty and violence leads to a vicious circle, with his own upbringing making him arguably as much victim as perpetrator. Who's There? does what crime fiction does best and is a thoughtful, shocking and unbearably real reflection of the complex and frightening issues affecting modern society.
fictionophile's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars rounded up
Having read and enjoyed this author's previous novel "Scared to Breathe", I was in no doubt as to whether I would relish "Who's There?". I was in no way disappointed.
This was difficult to read at times because of the subject matter, yet I felt compelled to read on because the characters were so engaging and sympathetic. The tension was compounded by the fact that the protagonist was so vulnerable and innocent. This novel was unusual in that it portrayed the real 'human' viewpoint of some of the seedier aspects of modern society. Ordinary people getting caught up in criminal activity, through either coercion, desperation, manipulation, or all of these.
I was rooting the entire time for Arnold, who was a genuinely decent young man. Also, the characters of Chip and Saskia were ones who I came to care deeply for. The setting was well written and you could easily visualize the area. The plot had several 'red-herrings' which I admit I fell for...
The ending was everything I was wishing for. I'm sure that the author, in her social work career, didn't often find such positive outcomes.
This is a crime thriller with heart. Recommended!
Having read and enjoyed this author's previous novel "Scared to Breathe", I was in no doubt as to whether I would relish "Who's There?". I was in no way disappointed.
This was difficult to read at times because of the subject matter, yet I felt compelled to read on because the characters were so engaging and sympathetic. The tension was compounded by the fact that the protagonist was so vulnerable and innocent. This novel was unusual in that it portrayed the real 'human' viewpoint of some of the seedier aspects of modern society. Ordinary people getting caught up in criminal activity, through either coercion, desperation, manipulation, or all of these.
I was rooting the entire time for Arnold, who was a genuinely decent young man. Also, the characters of Chip and Saskia were ones who I came to care deeply for. The setting was well written and you could easily visualize the area. The plot had several 'red-herrings' which I admit I fell for...
The ending was everything I was wishing for. I'm sure that the author, in her social work career, didn't often find such positive outcomes.
This is a crime thriller with heart. Recommended!
nietzschesghost's review
4.0
Who's There? is Kerena Swan's third crime fiction novel and it really packs a powerful punch. Arnold Eastwood, a young man with Down Syndrome, is brimming with hope when he discovers that social services have held a flat for him in order to bring him some freedom and independence. However, the place is on a rather rundown housing estate where crime is rife and given Arnold's vulnerability and naivety his mum worries he may be taken advantage of by the nefarious criminal gangs who roam the area. Meanwhile, fourteen-year-old Chip is taken on by a crime kingpin and local drug dealer who instructs him to find a place to set-up a base perfect for making batches of drugs to sell to those residing in the area and a place to supply them from. Chip finds the ideal spot when he meets Saskia and swiftly moves into her flat which just happens to be right next door to Arnold. Soon everyone is involved in criminal activities whether they like it or not.
I thoroughly enjoyed this dramatic and emotional thriller with a cast who are either criminals, those with vulnerabilities who are easy to manipulate or those who are a bit of both. Arnold is one of my favourite protagonists in a long time and I loved the way he was portrayed as independent but unfortunately so friendly and trusting that he is put into certain situations by "friends" that he would never have found himself in on his own. Ms Swan's former job as a social worker helps to create a believable narrative and a plot ringing with authenticity. It's well written, extensively researched and the narrative flows superbly from page to page which makes this a quick and easy read. The tension and danger are ratcheted up as you move through the story and made it very difficult to tear yourself away. Overall, this is a disturbing, highly entertaining and absorbing thriller. Many thanks to BOTBS for an ARC.
I thoroughly enjoyed this dramatic and emotional thriller with a cast who are either criminals, those with vulnerabilities who are easy to manipulate or those who are a bit of both. Arnold is one of my favourite protagonists in a long time and I loved the way he was portrayed as independent but unfortunately so friendly and trusting that he is put into certain situations by "friends" that he would never have found himself in on his own. Ms Swan's former job as a social worker helps to create a believable narrative and a plot ringing with authenticity. It's well written, extensively researched and the narrative flows superbly from page to page which makes this a quick and easy read. The tension and danger are ratcheted up as you move through the story and made it very difficult to tear yourself away. Overall, this is a disturbing, highly entertaining and absorbing thriller. Many thanks to BOTBS for an ARC.
the_coycaterpillar_reads's review
4.0
Thank you to Sarah for my spot on the blog tour. All thoughts are my own and unbiased.
How many times did our parents tell us never to talk to strangers? If your parents were anything like mine, it was too many times to count. This is the main theme at play in Who’s There? This is just easier said and done for a character like Arnold Eastwood, a naturally trusting young man with Downs Syndrome. He dreams of having his own independence after years living and relying on his mother. He knows he can do it. He wants to do it. The time has come, he has been offered his first flat. How hard can it be, right?
Just how dangerous can trusting anyone be? The author expertly weaves Arnold’s trusting nature with the worst vestiges of human behaviour. Manipulation, lies and deceit has the reader feeling heart wrenching emotion for Arnold. He doesn’t deserve the treatment he receives. He is a kind-hearted young man that doesn’t have the need to deceive people. What you see is what you get. I only wish that more people were like him. He truly wears his heart on his sleeve. I really enjoyed Arnold’s interaction with his boss and family. A true gentle soul.
Drug running and a young man with Down’s Syndrome…the two are just not compatible. Arnold lives next door to local drug addict, Saskia. She is a troubled soul with immense amounts of baggage. Something happened to her daughter that inevitably triggered her destructive relationship with heroin. As expected Arnold is naïve and has designs on her being his girlfriend. He’s adorably sweet to her but she’s just looking for her next fix. I feel for her, I really do. We meet Chip a runner for a much bigger and deadlier dealer called Poker. Chip is branching out and starting his own drug business under Poker. It doesn’t all go to plan. The waters getting muddier and Arnold is sandwiched in-between with no immediate way out due to his amazing character.
It isn’t straightforward, and everything isn’t as it seems. Arthur’s own family is dripping in flaws. His mother seems outrageously overprotective of him. This is to the detriment of her own physical health. I can understand fully what she thinks and feels as I am also a mother of a child of a rare genetic condition. My son was born with a segment of gene data missing from chromosome 15. This book really struck a chord with me and the author did a stellar job of pinpointing the mannerisms, the speech, the need to love and please and it made my heart warm that the author brought some much-needed awareness.
A horribly accurate telling of how naivety and manipulation come hand in hand. Terrifying and chilling. A slow burn of imminent disaster
How many times did our parents tell us never to talk to strangers? If your parents were anything like mine, it was too many times to count. This is the main theme at play in Who’s There? This is just easier said and done for a character like Arnold Eastwood, a naturally trusting young man with Downs Syndrome. He dreams of having his own independence after years living and relying on his mother. He knows he can do it. He wants to do it. The time has come, he has been offered his first flat. How hard can it be, right?
Just how dangerous can trusting anyone be? The author expertly weaves Arnold’s trusting nature with the worst vestiges of human behaviour. Manipulation, lies and deceit has the reader feeling heart wrenching emotion for Arnold. He doesn’t deserve the treatment he receives. He is a kind-hearted young man that doesn’t have the need to deceive people. What you see is what you get. I only wish that more people were like him. He truly wears his heart on his sleeve. I really enjoyed Arnold’s interaction with his boss and family. A true gentle soul.
Drug running and a young man with Down’s Syndrome…the two are just not compatible. Arnold lives next door to local drug addict, Saskia. She is a troubled soul with immense amounts of baggage. Something happened to her daughter that inevitably triggered her destructive relationship with heroin. As expected Arnold is naïve and has designs on her being his girlfriend. He’s adorably sweet to her but she’s just looking for her next fix. I feel for her, I really do. We meet Chip a runner for a much bigger and deadlier dealer called Poker. Chip is branching out and starting his own drug business under Poker. It doesn’t all go to plan. The waters getting muddier and Arnold is sandwiched in-between with no immediate way out due to his amazing character.
It isn’t straightforward, and everything isn’t as it seems. Arthur’s own family is dripping in flaws. His mother seems outrageously overprotective of him. This is to the detriment of her own physical health. I can understand fully what she thinks and feels as I am also a mother of a child of a rare genetic condition. My son was born with a segment of gene data missing from chromosome 15. This book really struck a chord with me and the author did a stellar job of pinpointing the mannerisms, the speech, the need to love and please and it made my heart warm that the author brought some much-needed awareness.
A horribly accurate telling of how naivety and manipulation come hand in hand. Terrifying and chilling. A slow burn of imminent disaster
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