The Attack — Catherine Jinks

A boot camp for troubled young men, a hidden identity and murderous pursuit on a remote island. Catherine Jinks is back with another heart-pounding thriller. Robin Ayres was once a dedicated primary school teacher but now is a caretaker at a reformatory camp for troubled teens. The camp is based on Finch Island, a tropical outpost where ex-military counsellors provide routine and discipline to groups of kids who often don’t want either. It’s not an easy place to be. Robyn knows this, but she believes in the message and she’s well-regarded for her ability to empathise with young people and assist in their rehabilitation and growth. And then, in the new batch of recruits, she spots Aaron. She hasn’t seen the kid for 10 years, but she’s sure it’s him. It’s a decade on from a shocking incident with Aaron’s family that left her near ruined. Just what is he doing here, and is his appearance a coincidence? Bruising classroom dynamics, manipulative parents and carers and horrendous small-town politics form the backdrop to a nail-biting thriller in which the tensions of ten years ago start to play themselves out, building to a violent climax in the present day.