Intense and gripping
Bewertet mit 5 Sternen
The book is told from the POV of old man Harry who remembers the times when he was a young boy, only just beginning to understand how things were handled back then, questioning opinions of others and learning to form his own. Eager to solve the mystery of several brutally murdered women, of whom he and his sister found the first body and therefore he feels some kind of personal responsibility, Harry is eager to accompany his father, who happens to be the local constable, and also to investigate on his own, more than once violating his father's rules and putting himself in danger. But in the end, it is Harry's courage and curiosity that help to solve the case, which triggers his step from childhood into adulthood. Throughout the book, we learn about the time Harry grew up in, the kids' carefree roaming through the bottoms, but also the still omnipresent if subliminal racism which Harry, wo was raised with a sense of impartiality, only just begins to realize.
Harrys story alternates between a longing for the good old times one is only able to experience as a child, but also a sadness about the way said child lost his innocence. This mixture of childish wonder and brutal reality makes 'The Bottoms' an intense and gripping reading experience. Highest recommendation.