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The Attack
What the past comes to get you...
Robyn Ayres works as the camp caretaker on Finch Island, a former leper colony off the coast of Queensland. Her current clients are a group of ex-military men who run a tough-love program for troubled teens.
The latest crop looks like the usual mix of bad boys and sad boys. Then Robyn takes a second look at a kid called Darren. Last time she saw him his name was Aaron, and Robyn was his primary school teacher. And she was somehow at the centre of a vicious small-town custody battle involving his terrifying grandmother.
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.
Robyn escaped the past once. Now it’s back—and this time there’s no way out.
Robyn Ayres works as the camp caretaker on Finch Island, a former leper colony off the coast of Queensland. Her current clients are a group of ex-military men who run a tough-love program for troubled teens.
The latest crop looks like the usual mix of bad boys and sad boys. Then Robyn takes a second look at a kid called Darren. Last time she saw him his name was Aaron, and Robyn was his primary school teacher. And she was somehow at the centre of a vicious small-town custody battle involving his terrifying grandmother.
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.
Robyn escaped the past once. Now it’s back—and this time there’s no way out.
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2021
7 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Jinks
62 books537 followersCatherine Jinks is the Australian author of more than thirty books for all ages. She has garnered many awards, including the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award(three times), the Victorian Premier’s Award, the Aurealis Award for Science Fiction, the Australian Ibby Award, and the Davitt Award for Crime Fiction. Her work has been published in Australia, New Zealand, Britain, the United States, Germany, Spain, France, Portugal, Poland, Russia, the Czech Republic and Thailand.
Catherine was born in Brisbane, Queensland, in 1963. She grew up in Papua New Guinea, where her father worked as a patrol officer. Her high-school years were spent in Sydney, NSW; in 2006, her alma mater, Ku-ring-gai High School, named its library after her.
From 1982 to 1986, Catherine studied at the University of Sydney, graduating with an honours degree in medieval history. She then worked on Westpac Banking Corporation’s staff magazine for approximately seven years. In 1992 she married Peter Dockrill, a Canadian journalist; in 1993 she and her husband left Australia for a brief spell in Nova Scotia, where she began to write full time. They returned to Australia in 1994, and Catherine gave birth to her daughter Hannah in 1997. Since 1998, she and her family have been living in Leura, NSW.
She has two brothers, and two pet rats. Like most people in Leura, she has become a slave to her garden, but not to the extent that she’ll buy rooting powder.
Catherine has been writing books since she was eight years old. She doesn’t expect to stop writing them any time soon.
Author photo: Catherine Jinks in front of 'Conceptual Networks', by artist Paul du Moulin.
Photo by Paul du Moulin
Catherine was born in Brisbane, Queensland, in 1963. She grew up in Papua New Guinea, where her father worked as a patrol officer. Her high-school years were spent in Sydney, NSW; in 2006, her alma mater, Ku-ring-gai High School, named its library after her.
From 1982 to 1986, Catherine studied at the University of Sydney, graduating with an honours degree in medieval history. She then worked on Westpac Banking Corporation’s staff magazine for approximately seven years. In 1992 she married Peter Dockrill, a Canadian journalist; in 1993 she and her husband left Australia for a brief spell in Nova Scotia, where she began to write full time. They returned to Australia in 1994, and Catherine gave birth to her daughter Hannah in 1997. Since 1998, she and her family have been living in Leura, NSW.
She has two brothers, and two pet rats. Like most people in Leura, she has become a slave to her garden, but not to the extent that she’ll buy rooting powder.
Catherine has been writing books since she was eight years old. She doesn’t expect to stop writing them any time soon.
Author photo: Catherine Jinks in front of 'Conceptual Networks', by artist Paul du Moulin.
Photo by Paul du Moulin
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
July 8, 2023
Robyn Ayres is the caretaker of Finch Island, a national park in Moreton Bay, Queensland. She looks after the old buildings and facilities that used to make up the leprosy quarantine station and provides catering for groups who book the site for camps and holidays. Currently she has a group of ex-army vets booked in for a week bootcamp for young offenders and boys at risk. This is not the first time they have booked the island for such a camp, but the group of teenage boys they have this time are particularly challenging, constantly getting up to annoying and dangerous pranks. Robyn is also concerned when she recognises one of the boys from when she was still a primary school teacher ten years ago, even though he is now going under a different name - Darren instead of Aaron.
Not only was Aaron the wild child from hell when he started in Robyn's class in kindergarten, but he was also the pawn in the middle of a nasty custody dispute between his scared mother and very toxic father and grandmother. Told in two time lines, Robyn relates the terrifying events that got out of control back in 2009 when Aaron was in her class and the events that now unfold on Finch Island ten years later. Both the small town where she once taught and the isolated island where she now works form the basis for a claustrophobic atmosphere with a feeling of menace in the air. The novel highlights not only the effects of dysfunctional families on young children and the longer term effects that can later lead to problem teenagers, such as those attending the boot camp, but also the effects on those bystanders who inadvertently get caught up in family disputes. Teachers are particularly vulnerable in having to deal not only with the disturbed child but their dysfunctional and sometimes violent family as well.
The novel is a slow burner as the two time lines build the story to its explosive ending and the revelation of what happened to Aaron since Robyn last saw him. It made for an original plot as well as an engaging read.
With thanks to Text Publishing and Netgalley for a copy to read
Not only was Aaron the wild child from hell when he started in Robyn's class in kindergarten, but he was also the pawn in the middle of a nasty custody dispute between his scared mother and very toxic father and grandmother. Told in two time lines, Robyn relates the terrifying events that got out of control back in 2009 when Aaron was in her class and the events that now unfold on Finch Island ten years later. Both the small town where she once taught and the isolated island where she now works form the basis for a claustrophobic atmosphere with a feeling of menace in the air. The novel highlights not only the effects of dysfunctional families on young children and the longer term effects that can later lead to problem teenagers, such as those attending the boot camp, but also the effects on those bystanders who inadvertently get caught up in family disputes. Teachers are particularly vulnerable in having to deal not only with the disturbed child but their dysfunctional and sometimes violent family as well.
The novel is a slow burner as the two time lines build the story to its explosive ending and the revelation of what happened to Aaron since Robyn last saw him. It made for an original plot as well as an engaging read.
With thanks to Text Publishing and Netgalley for a copy to read
August 23, 2021
In 2009, Robyn Ayres was a kindergarten teacher in the small country town of Otford, when she was first introduced to Aaron and his psycho family. Aaron was the child no one wanted in their classroom – it wasn’t long before his grandmother Joyce was making her presence felt. Move forward to 2019 and Robyn was now caretaker on Finch Island, a former leper colony just off the coast of Queensland. Robyn ran and coordinated a monthly boot camp - among other things - which ran for a week, that was for displaced teenagers and organized by ex-military soldiers who tried to give the teens the tough love they needed to bring them back into gear.
Robyn expected the group that was arriving on the ferry to be the same ragtag bunch of teens that she was used to. She saw the four vets who took charge, Shaun, Joe, Warren and Rhys, exit the ferry then watched as the surly boys followed – there were thirteen of them. It was when she spotted someone from her past that she felt a chill go down her spine. It was Aaron, she was sure of it. But now he was called Darren – what was going on? The following week would be one of the worst of Robyn’s life; indeed, the vets agreed this was the worst group they’d run. The passing out day, when the teens’ families arrived to see the medals achieved, the changes made, would become the catalyst when Robyn’s past collided with her current day…
The Attack by Aussie author Catherine Jinks is a psychological thriller which encompasses the children who fall through the cracks, the violence of marriage break-ups, family feuds, blame games, psychotic episodes – you name it! Set in two time frames – 2009 and 2019 – when Aaron was six then sixteen, the past and present were woven together well. The ending was fire-cracker intense and I thoroughly enjoyed it! This is my 3rd by Jinks, and after not enjoying the last one, I’m now happy to read more. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Robyn expected the group that was arriving on the ferry to be the same ragtag bunch of teens that she was used to. She saw the four vets who took charge, Shaun, Joe, Warren and Rhys, exit the ferry then watched as the surly boys followed – there were thirteen of them. It was when she spotted someone from her past that she felt a chill go down her spine. It was Aaron, she was sure of it. But now he was called Darren – what was going on? The following week would be one of the worst of Robyn’s life; indeed, the vets agreed this was the worst group they’d run. The passing out day, when the teens’ families arrived to see the medals achieved, the changes made, would become the catalyst when Robyn’s past collided with her current day…
The Attack by Aussie author Catherine Jinks is a psychological thriller which encompasses the children who fall through the cracks, the violence of marriage break-ups, family feuds, blame games, psychotic episodes – you name it! Set in two time frames – 2009 and 2019 – when Aaron was six then sixteen, the past and present were woven together well. The ending was fire-cracker intense and I thoroughly enjoyed it! This is my 3rd by Jinks, and after not enjoying the last one, I’m now happy to read more. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2021
This was a rather sad story about a child used as a weapon in a custody dispute and all the misery that it entailed.
Robyn Ayres is a young primary school teacher in a small country town when she first encounters Aaron Rooney and his mad family. The six year old Aaron is a feral child that is largely uncontrollable in the classroom or playground. His grandmother, Joyce, is never far away. She signs up for reading with the children but is so disruptive she is banned from the classroom. Aaron’s father, Scott, is a police sergeant and a wife beater. His wife, estranged, is a timid and delicate little thing who now lives with her father who is rumoured to be ‘eccentric’. The child, Aaron, is tossed around in this toxic brew. Soon circumstances and the Rooney family cause Robyn to leave teaching altogether.
Ten years later she is the caretaker of Fish Island, a former leper colony off the coast of Queensland. It is basic but comfortable accomodation and various groups use it for various purposes. One group in particular, Vetnet, use it for boot camp style ‘tough love’ retreats for wayward teenage boys. The former soldiers have a good success rate with their methods. On one such camp Robyn is shocked to see that she recognises one if the boys. Only now Aaron is called Darren. This particular camp is a disaster with many of the boys acting up and causing fear, discord and injury.
Despite her fears of Darren, Robyn realises that he is not to blame for most of the pranks that this groups of boys have pulled. But when the ferry arrives with family members to come and watch the passing out parade of the boys Robyn is horrified to see the evil Joyce and Scott. What else can possibly go wrong? Quite a lot as it turns out, but there are some pleasant surprises in store for Robyn as well. Despite not hitting a lot of high notes, this book was entertaining enough and kept me engaged throughout. The story itself, or something similar, is probably being played out across the world right now and it is sad to think how many children must end up as pawns in their parents toxic fights. Thanks to Netgalley and Text Publishing for the much appreciated ARC which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
Robyn Ayres is a young primary school teacher in a small country town when she first encounters Aaron Rooney and his mad family. The six year old Aaron is a feral child that is largely uncontrollable in the classroom or playground. His grandmother, Joyce, is never far away. She signs up for reading with the children but is so disruptive she is banned from the classroom. Aaron’s father, Scott, is a police sergeant and a wife beater. His wife, estranged, is a timid and delicate little thing who now lives with her father who is rumoured to be ‘eccentric’. The child, Aaron, is tossed around in this toxic brew. Soon circumstances and the Rooney family cause Robyn to leave teaching altogether.
Ten years later she is the caretaker of Fish Island, a former leper colony off the coast of Queensland. It is basic but comfortable accomodation and various groups use it for various purposes. One group in particular, Vetnet, use it for boot camp style ‘tough love’ retreats for wayward teenage boys. The former soldiers have a good success rate with their methods. On one such camp Robyn is shocked to see that she recognises one if the boys. Only now Aaron is called Darren. This particular camp is a disaster with many of the boys acting up and causing fear, discord and injury.
Despite her fears of Darren, Robyn realises that he is not to blame for most of the pranks that this groups of boys have pulled. But when the ferry arrives with family members to come and watch the passing out parade of the boys Robyn is horrified to see the evil Joyce and Scott. What else can possibly go wrong? Quite a lot as it turns out, but there are some pleasant surprises in store for Robyn as well. Despite not hitting a lot of high notes, this book was entertaining enough and kept me engaged throughout. The story itself, or something similar, is probably being played out across the world right now and it is sad to think how many children must end up as pawns in their parents toxic fights. Thanks to Netgalley and Text Publishing for the much appreciated ARC which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
July 7, 2023
Well that was a pleasant surprise!
This book takes place over two different timelines 10 years apart, both stories told from the point of view of Robyn Ayres. In 2009 she was a kindergarten teacher at a school in a small town in Australia where she became enmeshed in a nasty custody dispute involving one of her troubled "kindies" and in 2019 she's the camp caretaker on Finch Island, a former leper colony off the coast of Queensland. The current campers are a group of troubled teens under the care of a number of veterans who run a kind of boot camp. Imagine Robyn's shock when one of the campers turns out to be the troubled boy from her past.
The book is gripping as it goes back and forth between the two timelines, always with a hint of menace, until past and present collide. The characters in both timelines are interesting and the story kept me engaged as I raced through to find out what happened 10 years ago. The scene at the camp after the campers have left had me on the edge of my seat. Since I've had this one on my Kindle since May of 2021, I regret not reading it sooner and recommend it to lovers of suspense. Also, the cover is very haunting and gives me shivers. I'll definitely keep an eye out for future novels by Catherine Jinks and will be looking into some of her previous titles. She's written a lot of books in a lot of different genres but this was my first read of one of them.
My thanks to Text Publishing via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
This book takes place over two different timelines 10 years apart, both stories told from the point of view of Robyn Ayres. In 2009 she was a kindergarten teacher at a school in a small town in Australia where she became enmeshed in a nasty custody dispute involving one of her troubled "kindies" and in 2019 she's the camp caretaker on Finch Island, a former leper colony off the coast of Queensland. The current campers are a group of troubled teens under the care of a number of veterans who run a kind of boot camp. Imagine Robyn's shock when one of the campers turns out to be the troubled boy from her past.
The book is gripping as it goes back and forth between the two timelines, always with a hint of menace, until past and present collide. The characters in both timelines are interesting and the story kept me engaged as I raced through to find out what happened 10 years ago. The scene at the camp after the campers have left had me on the edge of my seat. Since I've had this one on my Kindle since May of 2021, I regret not reading it sooner and recommend it to lovers of suspense. Also, the cover is very haunting and gives me shivers. I'll definitely keep an eye out for future novels by Catherine Jinks and will be looking into some of her previous titles. She's written a lot of books in a lot of different genres but this was my first read of one of them.
My thanks to Text Publishing via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 2, 2022
Prolific Australian author Catherine Jinks published two books in 2021, with The Attack her latest release. Set on a former leper colony island off the coast of Queensland, caretaker Robyn Ayres oversees a tough-love camp for troubled teenagers run by former military personnel. She recognises one of the teens which sets off a series of disturbing behaviours that climax in a volcanic finale. A nail biting standalone thriller that was disappointingly only a novella, but nonetheless a truly enjoyable read with a five star rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.
February 13, 2022
The Attack was an intense Aussie thriller with a unique setting. It is another tough book to read in places but sadly I am sure that there are children out there who are living their young lives cuaght up in these situations.
Set on Finch Island, off the coast of Queensland, a former leper camp, Robyn now lives and works as the caretaker and hosts different groups for camps. The Attack is about a bootcamp for troubled teens. These boys have all gotten themselves into some kind of trouble with the law and this is their chance to redeem themselves. Robyn moved there to escape events of 10 years ago, but those memories come flooding back when she recognises one of the boys from her past.
We learn about her time as a Kindergarten teacher 10 years ago and the trouble student Aaron and his family. Arron is caught up in the middle of a nasty custody dispute, with family that are not really looking out for his welfare. He is unruly and out of control and scared. I felt sorry for him, he was 6 years old and being pushed and pulled in so many different ways.
Thanks to Text Publishing for sending me a copy of this book, I will definately look out for more books by this author.
Set on Finch Island, off the coast of Queensland, a former leper camp, Robyn now lives and works as the caretaker and hosts different groups for camps. The Attack is about a bootcamp for troubled teens. These boys have all gotten themselves into some kind of trouble with the law and this is their chance to redeem themselves. Robyn moved there to escape events of 10 years ago, but those memories come flooding back when she recognises one of the boys from her past.
We learn about her time as a Kindergarten teacher 10 years ago and the trouble student Aaron and his family. Arron is caught up in the middle of a nasty custody dispute, with family that are not really looking out for his welfare. He is unruly and out of control and scared. I felt sorry for him, he was 6 years old and being pushed and pulled in so many different ways.
Thanks to Text Publishing for sending me a copy of this book, I will definately look out for more books by this author.
November 29, 2025
Intense Australian psychological thriller, with memorable characters and a well-crafted plot.
Looking forward to reading more from Australian author Catherine Jinks!
Looking forward to reading more from Australian author Catherine Jinks!
June 19, 2021
Thank you Netgalley, Text Publishing, and Author Catherine Jinks for this ARC.
This book started slow and a bit muddled. It quickly picked up pace but I couldn't figure out if I was reading a YA or adult thriller. It teeters the line in its writing--college-aged kid trying to be an adult. It was pretty suspenseful and kept me reading to the end. I really liked Robyn, she was a bit refreshing as far as female leads go. I think once this book figures out who its audience is it'll be a hit.
This book started slow and a bit muddled. It quickly picked up pace but I couldn't figure out if I was reading a YA or adult thriller. It teeters the line in its writing--college-aged kid trying to be an adult. It was pretty suspenseful and kept me reading to the end. I really liked Robyn, she was a bit refreshing as far as female leads go. I think once this book figures out who its audience is it'll be a hit.
May 30, 2024
Robin Ayres used to be a schoolteacher, now she works on an island as a caretaker of an historical site now rented out for holidays and camps. Told in two strands, 2009 when she was a kindergarten teacher with a disruptive child, Aaron and caught in the middle between the separated parents (mum Krystal, policeman father Scott and his interfering nightmare of a mother, Joyce) and 2019 where the latest booking at the island is Vetnet, a kind of boot camp for unmanageable teens and Robyn recognises Aaron as one of them only he’s now called Darren. This was an uncomfortable read, the situation escalating right from the start and much of it seemed pretty improbable to me.
September 3, 2021
“I took one look at him and it all came flooding back. Otford. Joyce. The lies. The police. I’d fled to a deserted island, but I couldn’t seem to escape Aaron Rooney.”
Robyn Ayres is the caretaker of Finch Island /Buangan Pa, a former leper lazaret, repurposed for the use of campers and organised groups. The basic facilities and lack of phone/wifi service dull the island’s appeal to holidaymakers, but Vetnet, a boot camp for troubled teen boys run by ex military officers, are one of the island’s few regular bookings. When Shaun and his staff arrive with the latest group of delinquent recruits, Robyn is shocked to realise she recognises one of the boys. He is ten years older than the last time she saw him, and using a different name, but she is sure it is Aaron Rooney, who indirectly led to her self-imposed exile on the island. The knowledge leaves Robyn on edge and her anxiety worsens as she is targeted by a series of malicious pranks.
The story of The Attack unfolds over over two timelines, Robyn’s past as a kindergarten teacher in a small town caught between two warring families locked in a custody battle, shows why the sudden appearance of a now sixteen year old Aaron is so destabilising.
There is tension as Robyn wonders if Darren/Aaron remembers her, which builds with a series of worrying incidents, among them rubbish dumped on her bed, deliberately broken plumbing, and a kitchen fire. Robyn considers Aaron the most likely suspect, but there are fourteen other troubled teens on the island who might think that harassing Robyn would force the VetNet operators to send them home.
Though the pace for much of the book is quite restrained, there is a definite sense of anticipation that develops in both timelines. Everything comes to a head in the last quarter of the novel where Jinks provides a thrilling, action-packed climax as Robyn is forced to confront the past.
I really enjoyed The Attack for its original premise, interesting setting (inspired by Queensland’s Peel Island) and characterisation. This is a well written, absorbing and satisfying thriller.
Robyn Ayres is the caretaker of Finch Island /Buangan Pa, a former leper lazaret, repurposed for the use of campers and organised groups. The basic facilities and lack of phone/wifi service dull the island’s appeal to holidaymakers, but Vetnet, a boot camp for troubled teen boys run by ex military officers, are one of the island’s few regular bookings. When Shaun and his staff arrive with the latest group of delinquent recruits, Robyn is shocked to realise she recognises one of the boys. He is ten years older than the last time she saw him, and using a different name, but she is sure it is Aaron Rooney, who indirectly led to her self-imposed exile on the island. The knowledge leaves Robyn on edge and her anxiety worsens as she is targeted by a series of malicious pranks.
The story of The Attack unfolds over over two timelines, Robyn’s past as a kindergarten teacher in a small town caught between two warring families locked in a custody battle, shows why the sudden appearance of a now sixteen year old Aaron is so destabilising.
There is tension as Robyn wonders if Darren/Aaron remembers her, which builds with a series of worrying incidents, among them rubbish dumped on her bed, deliberately broken plumbing, and a kitchen fire. Robyn considers Aaron the most likely suspect, but there are fourteen other troubled teens on the island who might think that harassing Robyn would force the VetNet operators to send them home.
Though the pace for much of the book is quite restrained, there is a definite sense of anticipation that develops in both timelines. Everything comes to a head in the last quarter of the novel where Jinks provides a thrilling, action-packed climax as Robyn is forced to confront the past.
I really enjoyed The Attack for its original premise, interesting setting (inspired by Queensland’s Peel Island) and characterisation. This is a well written, absorbing and satisfying thriller.
August 20, 2021
‘I recognised him at once.’
It is 2019 and Robyn Ayres is the caretaker of Finch Island, a national park in Queensland’s Morton Bay. Finch Island was once used as a leprosy quarantine station and now is used for camping and holidaymakers. Robyn looks after maintenance of the buildings and provides catering for the groups that book the site. It is usually a quiet and isolated life, but Robyn does not mind. But Robyn’s relative tranquillity is about to be shattered.
The current group on the island is a week-long bootcamp run for young offenders and boys at risk. The group is run by a group of ex-army veterans: they have been here before. But the group they have this time is particularly challenging. While most of their pranks are annoying, some are dangerous. And Robyn is sure that she recognises one of the boys: he is called Darren now, but she knew him as Aaron.
In 2009, Robyn was a primary school teacher. Aaron was one of the boys in her class and he was at the centre of a custody battle between his parents. The odds were stacked against Aaron’s mother: his paternal grandmother was a particularly manipulative and nasty piece of work who nobody was prepared to cross. And Aaron, caught in the middle was disruptive and violent in school.
Yes, 2009 did not end well for Aaron or for Robyn. But why has his name been changed and why is he on Finch Island in 2019?
The story shifts between 2009 and 2019 and the tension builds. Robyn may have questions about the past, but in 2019 she and others are at risk. Her past, and Aaron’s, both become part of a dangerous present.
How will it end? You will need to read it to find out. I enjoyed this novel and found the ending satisfying.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
It is 2019 and Robyn Ayres is the caretaker of Finch Island, a national park in Queensland’s Morton Bay. Finch Island was once used as a leprosy quarantine station and now is used for camping and holidaymakers. Robyn looks after maintenance of the buildings and provides catering for the groups that book the site. It is usually a quiet and isolated life, but Robyn does not mind. But Robyn’s relative tranquillity is about to be shattered.
The current group on the island is a week-long bootcamp run for young offenders and boys at risk. The group is run by a group of ex-army veterans: they have been here before. But the group they have this time is particularly challenging. While most of their pranks are annoying, some are dangerous. And Robyn is sure that she recognises one of the boys: he is called Darren now, but she knew him as Aaron.
In 2009, Robyn was a primary school teacher. Aaron was one of the boys in her class and he was at the centre of a custody battle between his parents. The odds were stacked against Aaron’s mother: his paternal grandmother was a particularly manipulative and nasty piece of work who nobody was prepared to cross. And Aaron, caught in the middle was disruptive and violent in school.
Yes, 2009 did not end well for Aaron or for Robyn. But why has his name been changed and why is he on Finch Island in 2019?
The story shifts between 2009 and 2019 and the tension builds. Robyn may have questions about the past, but in 2019 she and others are at risk. Her past, and Aaron’s, both become part of a dangerous present.
How will it end? You will need to read it to find out. I enjoyed this novel and found the ending satisfying.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
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May 19, 2022The following reviews have been shared by Text Publishing - publisher of The Attack
‘A slow-burner that canvasses familial conflict and builds to a violent crescendo...[Will] appeal to new and recent converts to Jinks’ brand of dark revelation’
ArtsHub
‘A nail-biter.’
SA Weekend
‘A consistently tense ride for any reader...The Attack once again demonstrates Jinks's capacity to build that tension around characters who can be both vulnerable and resilient in situations which are not far from reader’s lived experience.’
Pile by the Bed
‘A tense thriller…[with a] brutal and terrifying climax…Jinks can certainly tell a good story.’
Canberra Times
'A tense, intimate island thriller.’
Readings
‘Catherine Jinks cements herself as a must-read Aussie crime writer with this book. It’s atmospheric and hard-hitting; if you’re a fan of Australian crime thrillers, don’t miss this.’
Cheryl Akle, Australian
'You will want to read it all in one gulp.’
Good Reading
'Robyn is a great character, resilient and strong...I highly recommend this for a good, suspenseful read (but maybe don’t take it camping with you…)’
Sisters in Crime
‘A slow-burner that canvasses familial conflict and builds to a violent crescendo...[Will] appeal to new and recent converts to Jinks’ brand of dark revelation’
ArtsHub
‘A nail-biter.’
SA Weekend
‘A consistently tense ride for any reader...The Attack once again demonstrates Jinks's capacity to build that tension around characters who can be both vulnerable and resilient in situations which are not far from reader’s lived experience.’
Pile by the Bed
‘A tense thriller…[with a] brutal and terrifying climax…Jinks can certainly tell a good story.’
Canberra Times
'A tense, intimate island thriller.’
Readings
‘Catherine Jinks cements herself as a must-read Aussie crime writer with this book. It’s atmospheric and hard-hitting; if you’re a fan of Australian crime thrillers, don’t miss this.’
Cheryl Akle, Australian
'You will want to read it all in one gulp.’
Good Reading
'Robyn is a great character, resilient and strong...I highly recommend this for a good, suspenseful read (but maybe don’t take it camping with you…)’
Sisters in Crime
January 31, 2022
This was a unique and thrilling read that I really enjoyed and smashed through in just two days. I highly recommend it 😊
I found parts of the story quite sad. Especially Aaron’s story, an out of control child who my heart went out to because of the circumstances he was in. This is a book about domestic abuse and a bitter custody battle where unfortunately the child is used as a pawn between the two families. His grandmother and father are selfish, abusive people who I detested greatly.
As the story unfolds between two timelines, which are ten years apart, I became completely absorbed with Robyn and her involvement with the two families and found the book unputdownable. It was hard to know who I should believe and the whole time, my heart broke for the little boy. I also found the main character Robyn likeable and her living arrangements fascinating. Living on a secluded island. How very cool is that?! What a place to heal after the ordeal she went through ten years prior. The other characters visiting the island were also wonderfully developed and I really respected them also. This book is really well done!
Overall, this is a fab thriller that is unsettling and intriguing. I enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down. Thank you Text Publishing for a copy of this entertaining read 😊
April 24, 2023
Trigger warnings: physical violence, gun violence, domestic violence, police corruption, child abuse, bullying, blood, misogyny, intimidation, mentions of alcohol/drug abuse, lesbophobia, mentions of suicide, death of a parent,
3.75 stars.
I was really excited to read this for two reasons:
1. I ADORED Catherine Jinks' Pagan series as a teenager; and
2. I LOVED her first adult thriller a couple of years ago and was really intrigued to see if she could write a second one that was just as compelling and gripping.
And yes, yes she could.
I was absolutely hooked from the second I picked this up, and I devoured it cover to cover in two sittings.
The jumps between past and present, revealing Robyn's history and present with Aaron, were extremely effective. There's a special kind of sinister reading this as someone who works at a school, and while it didn't quiiiiiiite stick the landing, I did absolutely fly through this because I *had* to know how the story was going to play out.
3.75 stars.
I was really excited to read this for two reasons:
1. I ADORED Catherine Jinks' Pagan series as a teenager; and
2. I LOVED her first adult thriller a couple of years ago and was really intrigued to see if she could write a second one that was just as compelling and gripping.
And yes, yes she could.
I was absolutely hooked from the second I picked this up, and I devoured it cover to cover in two sittings.
The jumps between past and present, revealing Robyn's history and present with Aaron, were extremely effective. There's a special kind of sinister reading this as someone who works at a school, and while it didn't quiiiiiiite stick the landing, I did absolutely fly through this because I *had* to know how the story was going to play out.
June 17, 2021
"What the past comes to get you...
Robyn Ayres works as the camp caretaker on Finch Island, a former leper colony off the coast of Queensland. Her current clients are a group of ex-military men who run a tough-love program for troubled teens." -- Good Reads
This is my first novel by Catherine Jinks. I have mixed feelings. I am not sure this is an adult thriller or a YA novel. At times I did feel like it was a bit immature and repetitive.
I would definitely consider this an easy read and I believe maybe I just wasnt the audience the author was trying to gravitate to. There were many parts that jumped out and stuck with me throughout the day and other times I found myself skimming through .
I would recommend this to a younger audience (high school/college)
Robyn Ayres works as the camp caretaker on Finch Island, a former leper colony off the coast of Queensland. Her current clients are a group of ex-military men who run a tough-love program for troubled teens." -- Good Reads
This is my first novel by Catherine Jinks. I have mixed feelings. I am not sure this is an adult thriller or a YA novel. At times I did feel like it was a bit immature and repetitive.
I would definitely consider this an easy read and I believe maybe I just wasnt the audience the author was trying to gravitate to. There were many parts that jumped out and stuck with me throughout the day and other times I found myself skimming through .
I would recommend this to a younger audience (high school/college)
September 7, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.
Mystery/crime/thriller set off the coast of Queensland. Starts a little slow but picks up quickly!!
Mystery/crime/thriller set off the coast of Queensland. Starts a little slow but picks up quickly!!
August 25, 2021
Set in a small town in NSW Australia in 2009 and on Finch Island, a former leper colony, off the coast of Queensland in 2019. The story moves between the two times and locations following the story of a teacher Robyn Ayres and a boy, Aaron, from a troubled family. It is a difficult story about difficult people and events that culminates in a dramatic climax.
The story is slow to start as it seemed to get bogged down and didn’t progress until the last quarter when it moves swiftly and dramatically. Well written but it could have been edited to quicken the pace early on in the story.
With domestic violence, police corruption, dysfunctional families and the consequences for their children running through the story there is a lot of think about.
Thank you to Netgalley and Text Publishing for a copy to read and review.
The story is slow to start as it seemed to get bogged down and didn’t progress until the last quarter when it moves swiftly and dramatically. Well written but it could have been edited to quicken the pace early on in the story.
With domestic violence, police corruption, dysfunctional families and the consequences for their children running through the story there is a lot of think about.
Thank you to Netgalley and Text Publishing for a copy to read and review.
April 15, 2022
Robyn's career as a school teacher ended 10 years ago and she's now the Caretaker on Finch Island, located off the coast of Queensland. One of Robyn's clients is a group of Veterans who run a camp for troubled teens in an effort to turn their lives around with group activities, discipline and teamwork. The island is a former leper colony and served as the perfect setting for the action that follows.
Unfolding in two timelines (2009 and 2019), we flick between Robyn's teaching days and her current position on Finch Island. The increasing drama taking place at the school had me transfixed as a young boy is at the heart of a domestic custody battle involving his mother, domineering Policeman father and despicably bitchy Grandmother. I wanted Robyn to take more of a stand against the behaviour being exhibited by a number of the characters in the book and I found myself wishing her colleagues would do more to help.
Meanwhile, some of the boys on the camp are acting up with some pretty nasty pranks and Robyn notices one of them looks uncannily like Aaron. Except his name is Darren now. Can it be the same boy?
Slowly the tensions rise and situations escalate until we finally learn what happened to cause Robyn to leave her career behind and choose to live an isolated and lonely life on Finch Island.
The Attack by Catherine Jinks is a satisfying and entertaining read with a good mystery at its heart. Catherine Jinks is an accomplished Australian author of more than thirty books, however this is my first time reading any of her novels.
The Attack by Catherine Jinks is recommended for fans of domestic noir and Aussie crime thrillers.
* Copy courtesy of Text Publishing *
Unfolding in two timelines (2009 and 2019), we flick between Robyn's teaching days and her current position on Finch Island. The increasing drama taking place at the school had me transfixed as a young boy is at the heart of a domestic custody battle involving his mother, domineering Policeman father and despicably bitchy Grandmother. I wanted Robyn to take more of a stand against the behaviour being exhibited by a number of the characters in the book and I found myself wishing her colleagues would do more to help.
Meanwhile, some of the boys on the camp are acting up with some pretty nasty pranks and Robyn notices one of them looks uncannily like Aaron. Except his name is Darren now. Can it be the same boy?
Slowly the tensions rise and situations escalate until we finally learn what happened to cause Robyn to leave her career behind and choose to live an isolated and lonely life on Finch Island.
The Attack by Catherine Jinks is a satisfying and entertaining read with a good mystery at its heart. Catherine Jinks is an accomplished Australian author of more than thirty books, however this is my first time reading any of her novels.
The Attack by Catherine Jinks is recommended for fans of domestic noir and Aussie crime thrillers.
* Copy courtesy of Text Publishing *
June 7, 2021
Honest review in exchange for ARC from NetGalley.
Having read a number of Catherine Jinks books for younger and YA readers - I thought I would give this a go. I would suggest this is aimed at an adult audience - the main character 'Rob' is a tough and somewhat damaged, middle-aged woman - responsible for caretaking a National Parks island, and managing the impacts of its visitors and the 'boot camps' run for struggling youth.
She is force to face her past demons when she recognizes a participant of one such camp. Her unease turns to fear as the isolated camp setting leaves little room for escape.
Jinks interweaves chapters revealing the past along with the current action - building the sense of panic. There is strong language and a fair amount of violence depicted - not quite my usual reading, but still gave three stars as I did find myself 'hooked' to the end (with fingers crossed for a satisfactory resolution). If you like 'Hand that rocks the cradle' or 'Disturbia' style thrillers this could be for you.
Having read a number of Catherine Jinks books for younger and YA readers - I thought I would give this a go. I would suggest this is aimed at an adult audience - the main character 'Rob' is a tough and somewhat damaged, middle-aged woman - responsible for caretaking a National Parks island, and managing the impacts of its visitors and the 'boot camps' run for struggling youth.
She is force to face her past demons when she recognizes a participant of one such camp. Her unease turns to fear as the isolated camp setting leaves little room for escape.
Jinks interweaves chapters revealing the past along with the current action - building the sense of panic. There is strong language and a fair amount of violence depicted - not quite my usual reading, but still gave three stars as I did find myself 'hooked' to the end (with fingers crossed for a satisfactory resolution). If you like 'Hand that rocks the cradle' or 'Disturbia' style thrillers this could be for you.
October 25, 2021
The telling of this tale through two time periods in alternating chapters worked well. There was a lot to like about this novel which picked up pace in the latter third but I was also frustrated at the naivety, almost stupidity of the main character at times. When she finally found some nous I became more engaged.
December 18, 2021
I liked the premise of this book, good storyline, but the writing was a little simple, and who dunnit was figured out early on in the piece.
Also not sold on the title.
Also not sold on the title.
September 14, 2021
4.5 stars.
The Attack by Catherine Jinks is a suspenseful, engrossing mystery.
In 2009, Robyn Ayers is an experienced teacher starting over in new town after a heartbreaking betrayal. She is a kindergarten teacher whose school year starts off with a bang. A couple of her students are a bit of handful but six-year-old Aaron Rooney is troubled with a difficult home-life. Robyn does her best to adhere to school policies and maintain a professional distance but that soon becomes impossible. Aaron is destructive and wildly out of control which she believes is the result of possible abusive. Aaron’s grandmother, Joyce, is caustic, disruptive and prone to making unfounded accusations. Aaron’s mum, Krystal McCall obviously loves her son, but Robyn has trouble keeping her on topic during school meetings. The situation reaches a shocking crescendo that leaves Robyn picking up the tattered pieces of her life once again.
In 2019, Robyn is lives alone on isolated Finch Island where she takes care of the historic site that was at one time a leper colony. She spends most of her days in solitude ensuring the visitors abide by the rules. The island is also used by a group of former military men who run a boot camp for troubled and at-risk boys. This latest group’s behavior is quite challenging right from the very start. Adding to Robyn’s uneasiness is her certainty that teenager Darren King is, in fact, Aaron Rooney. When it appears someone is targeting her, Robyn at first believes Darren/Aaron is responsible. But the quiet teenager’s behavior is quite different than when he was younger and he is asking worrying questions about Krystal. Robyn does not want to probe too deeply and she has enough to worry about with the other antics that are occurring. With the boys’ “graduation” fast approaching, will Robyn finally learn the truth about what happened to Aaron ten years earlier?
The Attack is a tense mystery that seamlessly moves back and forth in time. In 2009, Robyn is a bit idealistic and ill-prepared for teaching in a small town. She quickly discovers the worst part of small-town life occurs when power falls into malevolent hands. Robyn is out of her depth right from the start and when the situation spirals out of control, she learns the hard way the town protects its own. In the 2019, Robyn is suspicious, gruff and outspoken as the boot camp gets off to a rough start. Both iterations of Robyn are likable since it is easy to understand how life has shaped her and her reactions. The well-developed storyline steadily moves toward past and present colliding as Robyn finds herself in increasing danger. With stunning plot twists, Catherine Jinks brings this brilliant novel to a breathless, edge of the seat conclusion.
The Attack by Catherine Jinks is a suspenseful, engrossing mystery.
In 2009, Robyn Ayers is an experienced teacher starting over in new town after a heartbreaking betrayal. She is a kindergarten teacher whose school year starts off with a bang. A couple of her students are a bit of handful but six-year-old Aaron Rooney is troubled with a difficult home-life. Robyn does her best to adhere to school policies and maintain a professional distance but that soon becomes impossible. Aaron is destructive and wildly out of control which she believes is the result of possible abusive. Aaron’s grandmother, Joyce, is caustic, disruptive and prone to making unfounded accusations. Aaron’s mum, Krystal McCall obviously loves her son, but Robyn has trouble keeping her on topic during school meetings. The situation reaches a shocking crescendo that leaves Robyn picking up the tattered pieces of her life once again.
In 2019, Robyn is lives alone on isolated Finch Island where she takes care of the historic site that was at one time a leper colony. She spends most of her days in solitude ensuring the visitors abide by the rules. The island is also used by a group of former military men who run a boot camp for troubled and at-risk boys. This latest group’s behavior is quite challenging right from the very start. Adding to Robyn’s uneasiness is her certainty that teenager Darren King is, in fact, Aaron Rooney. When it appears someone is targeting her, Robyn at first believes Darren/Aaron is responsible. But the quiet teenager’s behavior is quite different than when he was younger and he is asking worrying questions about Krystal. Robyn does not want to probe too deeply and she has enough to worry about with the other antics that are occurring. With the boys’ “graduation” fast approaching, will Robyn finally learn the truth about what happened to Aaron ten years earlier?
The Attack is a tense mystery that seamlessly moves back and forth in time. In 2009, Robyn is a bit idealistic and ill-prepared for teaching in a small town. She quickly discovers the worst part of small-town life occurs when power falls into malevolent hands. Robyn is out of her depth right from the start and when the situation spirals out of control, she learns the hard way the town protects its own. In the 2019, Robyn is suspicious, gruff and outspoken as the boot camp gets off to a rough start. Both iterations of Robyn are likable since it is easy to understand how life has shaped her and her reactions. The well-developed storyline steadily moves toward past and present colliding as Robyn finds herself in increasing danger. With stunning plot twists, Catherine Jinks brings this brilliant novel to a breathless, edge of the seat conclusion.
September 1, 2021
I was keen to jump straight into The Attach by Catherine Jinks after reviewing her previous book Shelter at the start of this year. Set on the fictitious Finch Island in Moreton Bay, with the closest mainland being Cleveland, it automatically resonated with me as I spent a few years in my late teens living there. I could see the setting and imagine trips on the Staddie ferry or jumping on a water taxi.
Robyn is a primary school teacher trying to help Aaron a young troubled boy as he struggles through each school day, with his parents separated and on very different sides of the fence where his wellbeing is concerned. Enter a meddling grandmother and a few of her scheming friends and things rapidly heat up in Robyn’s classroom. We then fast forward to ten years later when Robyn has changed careers and has moved to live on Finch Island, this is where Aaron arrives now a teenager in a group of wayward teens. With a new name and disposition on life Robyn needs to find out what exactly has happened to Aaron and how has he ended up in her life again.
Set over two timelines, the transition between the two was seamless and kept you interested throughout. I was drawn into this tense thriller and found it hard to put down as it built to the explosive conclusion. A very enjoyable read and one I would recommend. Thank you to Text Publishing and Net Galley for the early reading copy.
Robyn is a primary school teacher trying to help Aaron a young troubled boy as he struggles through each school day, with his parents separated and on very different sides of the fence where his wellbeing is concerned. Enter a meddling grandmother and a few of her scheming friends and things rapidly heat up in Robyn’s classroom. We then fast forward to ten years later when Robyn has changed careers and has moved to live on Finch Island, this is where Aaron arrives now a teenager in a group of wayward teens. With a new name and disposition on life Robyn needs to find out what exactly has happened to Aaron and how has he ended up in her life again.
Set over two timelines, the transition between the two was seamless and kept you interested throughout. I was drawn into this tense thriller and found it hard to put down as it built to the explosive conclusion. A very enjoyable read and one I would recommend. Thank you to Text Publishing and Net Galley for the early reading copy.
July 9, 2022
I found this to be a well written novel with characters that really came to life on the page. Not a relaxing read, as I felt every tense moment the main character was experiencing, both in the telling of the past and the ongoing story in the present. Things really ramped up in the last quarter of the book and I couldn't put it down as the action and urgency went full speed.
Read
May 6, 2023Trigger & Content Warnings:
Lesbomisia mentioned
Child abuse
Domestic violence
Suicide mentioned
Alcohol consumption mentioned
Drug abuse mentioned
Death of a parent mentioned
Murder
Gun violence
Police corruption
Lesbomisia mentioned
Child abuse
Domestic violence
Suicide mentioned
Alcohol consumption mentioned
Drug abuse mentioned
Death of a parent mentioned
Murder
Gun violence
Police corruption
August 30, 2021
This was a very thrilling read. I finished this book in two days. The story goes back and forth in time: 2009 and 2019. The narrative in 2009 tells what happened between Aaron's parents and how Aaron was showing behavioural symptoms. The plot is set in a small town where Robyn is a new resident. She unknowingly gets involved with Aaron's custody dispute and her life crumbles. The author took their time in laying out the story. It's 2019 and Robyn is now a camp caretaker in an island. The past and present were slowly being connected and it got more interesting with time. All my assumptions were wrong about the ending. 🤣 And that's how you know a book is really good. A very dark and twisted book with equally dark characters. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you Netgalley for this wonderful ARC.
Thank you Netgalley for this wonderful ARC.
August 24, 2021
An interesting set-up with current and past times that have you wondering where this story is going. This is like a slow drip taunting the reader while keeping us hanging while becoming more involved with all the characters not knowing who to believe. The ending, like a crescendo, builds to a satisfying well-written story deserving 5 stars.
An independent review NetGalley / Text Publishing
An independent review NetGalley / Text Publishing
August 1, 2021
The Attack is my second book by Catherine Jinks, having read Shelter (themed on domestic and family violence) earlier in the year. I liked The Attack (also about domestic and family violence but focused on the impact on children) substantially better. Jinks is a very competent writer, so you are able to relax into her storytelling and focus on the landscape and plot rather than poor expression.
"Even the lepers' huts had their own little verandas, though not in the Aboriginal compound. If you were a black leper, you were given a hut made of corrugated iron with a concrete floor and no glass in the windows." This novel is set in two locations, Finch Island, a former leper colony that is clearly based upon Peel Island Lazaret in Moreton Bay, and Otford (a real place on the NSW South Coast) which has been relocated to a country town near Bathurst in NSW.
The Attack is told from the perspective of Robyn Ayres, a present day or former kindergarten teacher depending upon which time period you're in - the novel oscillates between 2009 and 2019. It is centred upon the difficult role of a teacher when parents and wider family choose to use children as pawns in separation.
"Despite my best efforts, the kindies kept wandering around like farmyard hens." The best bits of this novel were the 2009 descriptions of teaching kindergarten: "Seeing him smile for the first time, I was smitten by guilt. I had to remember he was a child, not an incendiary device."
Perhaps the only difficulty in the novel was keeping track of all the characters - not only are there the kindergarten class and their families in the historical section, there are also the veterans and older boys attending boot camp on Finch Island in the present day section. That sure adds up to a lot of bodies to keep track of. Otherwise this was a fast and enjoyable read that connects children's future learning and behavioural impacts to experiencing domestic and family violence very nicely.
With thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for sending me a copy to read.
"Even the lepers' huts had their own little verandas, though not in the Aboriginal compound. If you were a black leper, you were given a hut made of corrugated iron with a concrete floor and no glass in the windows." This novel is set in two locations, Finch Island, a former leper colony that is clearly based upon Peel Island Lazaret in Moreton Bay, and Otford (a real place on the NSW South Coast) which has been relocated to a country town near Bathurst in NSW.
The Attack is told from the perspective of Robyn Ayres, a present day or former kindergarten teacher depending upon which time period you're in - the novel oscillates between 2009 and 2019. It is centred upon the difficult role of a teacher when parents and wider family choose to use children as pawns in separation.
"Despite my best efforts, the kindies kept wandering around like farmyard hens." The best bits of this novel were the 2009 descriptions of teaching kindergarten: "Seeing him smile for the first time, I was smitten by guilt. I had to remember he was a child, not an incendiary device."
Perhaps the only difficulty in the novel was keeping track of all the characters - not only are there the kindergarten class and their families in the historical section, there are also the veterans and older boys attending boot camp on Finch Island in the present day section. That sure adds up to a lot of bodies to keep track of. Otherwise this was a fast and enjoyable read that connects children's future learning and behavioural impacts to experiencing domestic and family violence very nicely.
With thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for sending me a copy to read.
September 6, 2021
A big Thank you to Net galley for offering a digital copy of this amazing book
The Attack is told from the perspective of Robyn Ayres, a present day or former kindergarten teacher depending upon which time you’re in – the novel oscillates between 2009 and 2019. It is centered upon the difficult role of a teacher when parents and wider family choose to use children as pawns in separation.
Aaron was the wild child when he started in Robyn’s class in kindergarten, but he was also the pawn in the middle of a nasty custody dispute between his scared mother and very toxic father and grandmother. Told in two lines, Robyn relates the terrifying events that got out of control back in 2009 when Aaron was in her class and the events that now unfold on Finch Island ten years later
The novel highlights not only the effects of dysfunctional families on young children and the later problems that can lead to problem teenagers, such as those attending the boot camp, but also the effects on those bystanders who inadvertently get caught up in family disputes. Teachers are particularly vulnerable in having to deal not only with the disturbed child but their dysfunctional and sometimes violent family as well.
Despite not hitting a lot of high notes, this book was entertaining enough and kept me engaged throughout. The story itself, or something similar, is probably being played out across the world right now and it is sad to think how many children must end up as pawns in their parents’ toxic fights.
This is my first novel by Catherine Jinks. I have mixed feelings. I am not sure this is an adult thriller or a YA novel. At times I did feel like it was a bit immature and repetitive.
The Attack is told from the perspective of Robyn Ayres, a present day or former kindergarten teacher depending upon which time you’re in – the novel oscillates between 2009 and 2019. It is centered upon the difficult role of a teacher when parents and wider family choose to use children as pawns in separation.
Aaron was the wild child when he started in Robyn’s class in kindergarten, but he was also the pawn in the middle of a nasty custody dispute between his scared mother and very toxic father and grandmother. Told in two lines, Robyn relates the terrifying events that got out of control back in 2009 when Aaron was in her class and the events that now unfold on Finch Island ten years later
The novel highlights not only the effects of dysfunctional families on young children and the later problems that can lead to problem teenagers, such as those attending the boot camp, but also the effects on those bystanders who inadvertently get caught up in family disputes. Teachers are particularly vulnerable in having to deal not only with the disturbed child but their dysfunctional and sometimes violent family as well.
Despite not hitting a lot of high notes, this book was entertaining enough and kept me engaged throughout. The story itself, or something similar, is probably being played out across the world right now and it is sad to think how many children must end up as pawns in their parents’ toxic fights.
This is my first novel by Catherine Jinks. I have mixed feelings. I am not sure this is an adult thriller or a YA novel. At times I did feel like it was a bit immature and repetitive.
June 29, 2021
Thank you NetGalley and Text Publishing for the eARC
The Attack by Catherine Jinks.
Set in Queensland Australia the story follows Robyn Ayres a former primary school teacher now camp caretaker for troubled teenagers. She comes face to face with her past one day when her former student Aaron but now called Darren joins a group of rattled boys in the program and with who she had a nasty involvement with his horrid Father and Grandmother.
The narrative was so suspenseful and exciting, I didn't want to put it down. It was a little but slow to start with but picked up very quickly to the end. I loved most of the characters and the writing was so wonderfully written.
The Attack by Catherine Jinks.
Set in Queensland Australia the story follows Robyn Ayres a former primary school teacher now camp caretaker for troubled teenagers. She comes face to face with her past one day when her former student Aaron but now called Darren joins a group of rattled boys in the program and with who she had a nasty involvement with his horrid Father and Grandmother.
The narrative was so suspenseful and exciting, I didn't want to put it down. It was a little but slow to start with but picked up very quickly to the end. I loved most of the characters and the writing was so wonderfully written.
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