REVIEW: Bedlam by Ally Kennen

Review by Alexandra

Well I have to say the last hundred pages and conclusion of this are completely gripping. That’s not to say the start and middle aren’t compelling either, it’s just the last third really stands out. 

Lexi lives with her dad and, apart from her dodgy taste in boys, thinks she has it ok – that is until she has to go stay with her mum. Lexi’s mum ran out on her and her brother when she was a toddler and they’ve not really gotten on since.  Worse, she can’t stand her mum’s fiancé, Owen, who she’s sure isn’t quite as nice as her mum thinks he is.

A summer job at the local hotel brings Lexi some new friends, but it’s a boy that she meets in the forest one day that changes her life. Looking for her mum’s dog, Tyson (missing thanks to Lexi), Lexi falls through the ground into the cellar of an abandoned building.  Her life at stake, she’s rescued by Kos - who promptly disappears. 

Lexi finds Kos again and a dangerous adventure starts. A tangled web involving the locals in her mum’s village starts to unravel, but it’s when her mum’s away on her hen weekend that things really start to fall apart for Lexi. 

Lexi is a likeable rogue to start with then turns into a whole other character by the end – her change is wonderful to read about and the plot and other characters in this novel are engaging and very realistic.

Compelling and very original, highly recommended.

Review by Alexandra

Comments

[Jenny]

Great review!

My friend read this and also said it was brilliant. Hmm... I may have to get this one!

[Luisa]

Thanks a lot for your comment, Jenny! I want to read this one too.