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A review by belakovska
Witness by Cath Staincliffe
3.0
I like the fact that Cath Staincliffe writes crime drama that doesn't just follow a detective around until they have solved the murder. Instead, we are told early on who the perpetrators are and, as is often the case where gangs are involved, the difficulty is not that the police don't know who they are looking for, but that they need to have a strong case in order to bring the perps to justice. This means relying on (credible) witnesses to come forward and be prepared to undergo examination in court, which in the case of at least one witness here, is a terrifying prospect given the risks.
The story begins with the murder of a young lad in broad daylight, told from the perspective of a nurse who was first to the scene and who attempted to save his life. In the event of his death, she becomes one of several other witnesses, whose stories unfold chapter by chapter. Staincliffe does a good job of trying to illustrate different characters from varied backgrounds, and voices the turmoil they have in deciding whether or not to testify in court. She also highlights the mental health difficulties associated with witnessing a trauma and how becoming a part of the criminal justice system can bring unforeseen issues as time ticks by.
One of the most interesting, but frustrating, characters was Zak, a homeless boy who clearly had a troubled childhood and whose motivation for becoming a witness is questionable but understandable. As he is contending for page space with three other characters, it is difficult to fully engage with him (and he is hard to like a lot of the time) but I would like to have learned more about him and his background.
The novel is resolved satisfyingly, and it does feel like the author knows her stuff when it comes to courtroom proceedings and the flaws in the law. Definitely worth a read if you like crime drama with a difference.
The story begins with the murder of a young lad in broad daylight, told from the perspective of a nurse who was first to the scene and who attempted to save his life. In the event of his death, she becomes one of several other witnesses, whose stories unfold chapter by chapter. Staincliffe does a good job of trying to illustrate different characters from varied backgrounds, and voices the turmoil they have in deciding whether or not to testify in court. She also highlights the mental health difficulties associated with witnessing a trauma and how becoming a part of the criminal justice system can bring unforeseen issues as time ticks by.
One of the most interesting, but frustrating, characters was Zak, a homeless boy who clearly had a troubled childhood and whose motivation for becoming a witness is questionable but understandable. As he is contending for page space with three other characters, it is difficult to fully engage with him (and he is hard to like a lot of the time) but I would like to have learned more about him and his background.
The novel is resolved satisfyingly, and it does feel like the author knows her stuff when it comes to courtroom proceedings and the flaws in the law. Definitely worth a read if you like crime drama with a difference.