"Fast, furious, and wonderful storytelling awaits in this fascinating novel where 3 kids witness a murder."
There is a beautiful simplicity to this novel that sits alongside an intricately layered plot, ensuring a hugely provocative and stimulating read. When Zhang pushes his in-laws to their death, he wasn’t expecting witnesses, or to be blackmailed by three children. Hats off to the hugely effective storytelling by Zijin Chen.
Short sharp shocks of chapters hurtle along, focusing on different characters. The sense of place is extraordinarily vivid, I felt as though I was in China and a part of the story. So beautifully is Bad Kids translated by Michelle Deeter I felt entirely at home while looking around eyes-wide at the scenes I was viewing.
The plot builds, layers shifting, altering, settling and overlapping as the next lands. At points I almost read through my fingers, flinching in expectation of what was to come. I felt a whole range of emotions, I flitted from amusement through to pity, and horror. The three youngsters are absolutely fascinating, their friendship had me hooked.
The ending felt absolutely perfect and I sat back satisfied by this entertaining novel. Bad Kids is a humdinger of a read, dark, surprising, and completely addictive, it’s been chosen as a Liz Pick of the Month.
| Primary Genre | Thriller and Suspense |
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the best psychological thrillers · the best thriller audiobooks
SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA CRIME FICTION IN TRANSLATION DAGGER 2023A dark Chinese suspense thriller about teenage accountability, where no one is innocent, for fans of Keigo Higashino and Un-Su KimOne beautiful morning, Zhang Dongsheng pushes his wealthy in-laws off a remote mountain. It's the perfect crime.
Bad Kids features in the following genres: Thriller and Suspense, Liz Robinson's Picks of the Month, Recommendations, Crime and Mystery, Family Drama, Fiction in translation, Narrative theme: Interior life, Narrative theme: Social issues, Narrative theme: Sense of place, Narrative theme: Identity / belonging, Fiction, Fiction: special features, Fiction: narrative themes
Paperback, Ebook. £6.99. Digital. Available Immediately. Country restrictions apply..
Bad Kids was written by Zijin Chen and published by Pushkin Vertigo
£6.99. Digital. Available Immediately. Country restrictions apply..
