

That said, the character drama that the mystery frames is top-notch. Keen readers of mystery novels who are looking to solve the central puzzle may find the plotting of this debut YA thriller a touch heavy on the foreshadowing, and the reveal itself a little flat.

And Tash, having come to accept that her imaginary friend was never real, is beginning to see him again.

Mallory, traumatised and mute, has no recollection of the week she went missing. Nine years later, the Fishers have returned to Port Bellamy, stirring up old memories and unanswered questions. Yet nobody would believe her account of the event-that Mallory was abducted by Tash’s imaginary friend Sparrow. A child, Tash Carmody witnessed the kidnapping of Mallory Fisher.
