Tag Archives: defender

Defender

Defender Book Cover Defender
Graham McNamee
Wendy Lamb Books
April 12, 2016
240

Seventeen-year-old Tyne and her boyfriend Stick investigate a decades-old murder after she finds the body of a girl in the basement wall of her apartment building.

 

Review:

“Defender” is a gritty mystery set in a downtrodden urban area of Toronto.

While I felt that the varied races of the characters and the realistic feel of the location were unique, there was something off about it all that I can’t quite put my finger on.  It didn’t all come together in a way that could have taken it from okay to great.  There were a lot of subplots occurring, and that may have been a barrier in keeping the story cohesive.

The mystery contained in the story was a good one with an ending I really appreciated.  The look into the very real problems with the foster care system and the difficulty of being able to escape poverty were eye-opening.  Many readers are sure to find characters they can relate to, which for many may be a rare occurrence.

“Defender” has its good and bad points, and I encourage those who are interested to give it a try.  There is quite a bit of  disturbing imagery, so those buying for younger or sensitive readers should keep that in mind.

This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 

Content Warning:

Language, Sexual Situations, Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Violence, Disturbing Imagery