The Shattering
Karen Healey
Language: English
Pages: 320
ISBN: 0316125725
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
Seventeen-year-old Keri likes to plan for every possibility. She knows what to do if you break an arm, or get caught in an earthquake or fire. But she wasn't prepared for her brother's suicide, and his death has left her shattered with grief. When her childhood friend Janna tells her it was murder, not suicide, Keri wants to believe her. After all, Janna's brother died under similar circumstances years ago, and Janna insists a visiting tourist, Sione, who also lost a brother to apparent suicide that year, has helped her find some answers.
As the three dig deeper, disturbing facts begin to pile up: one boy killed every year; all older brothers; all had spent New Year's Eve in the idyllic town of Summerton. But when their search for the serial killer takes an unexpected turn, suspicion is cast on those they trust the most.
As secrets shatter around them, can they save the next victim? Or will they become victims themselves?
and proper respect. And of course, she’s right.’ Sione winced. ‘Sorry, Mum.’ She laughed into the phone. His mum had a great laugh. ‘Is Summerton still beautiful?’ Sione remembered Janna’s theory and scrunched his toes into the carpet. ‘Always.’ ‘It’s a real miracle, that place. Okay, your dad was going to say hi, but it’s time for evening prayer. We’ll call tomorrow.’ ‘Give my love to the uncles and aunties and cousins,’ Sione said. ‘And Dad and Nanny Isolina and everyone.’ ‘They give
was triumphantly brandishing a Leatherman multi-tool. She beckoned him over, and he obediently opened the messenger bag for her to throw everything in. At least now he knew why she’d asked him to bring the bag. Keri generally had reasons, he was realising, but she didn’t always get to the part where she made them clear to you. The baton she kept, sliding it into the long calf pocket of her worn cargo pants. It was swallowed by the fabric, so you could barely tell anything was there. Someone
you grounded for leaving on Christmas without telling anyone?’ ‘No.’ ‘Really.’ ‘I have to get permission from you or Mum before I go anywhere,’ she said reluctantly. Her father tilted his chin the exact same way she did and waited. ‘So can we go?’ Keri asked at last. ‘I left a note for her, I didn’t just leave.’ Her dad grinned. ‘Be back by five. Your nanny’s calling then. I told her you’d be here.’ Keri made a face. ‘We’ll be back ages before that,’ she promised, and hustled Sione out of
bed with Takeshi’s quick smiles and careful hands, and then pushed the feeling away. It wasn’t like she would let him get weird over her history. ‘Come inside, I’ll just talk to Keri,’ she said, hoping it wasn’t very important so they could get back to kissing. Ten minutes later she stood in the hallway sick and shaking while Takeshi held her hand and waited for her to tell him what was wrong. But she couldn’t do that, because then he would think she was crazy, and he’d start avoiding her and
clatter from the hall announced the kids were returning, no doubt stinking of chlorine and complaining of sore eyes. Sure enough, Petra and Mariel were in the kitchen, wet hair dripping everywhere, fighting over who should have the first go with the blender. Lurking in the hall, Janna felt a huge surge of love for them, so overwhelming that she thought it should trickle out her fingers in ribbons of light, ribbons she could wrap around her sisters to keep them always safe and loved. Of course,