Review: Fierce by Gin Phillips
When the next book from the Mumsnet Book Club landed on my doorstep, I was so looking forward to getting my teeth into a gritty thriller. And Fierce, by Gin Phillips, promised exactly that.
Fierce tells the story of Joan, Mum to four year old Lincoln, and starts with an ordinary day and a visit to the zoo, something they have done together countess times in the past. But something about that day is different, and from the moment Joan hears gun shots in the distance, she knows that she has a real fight for survival on her hands. And the question is, for Joan and for us as the reader, is how far would you go to protect your child?
As a parent, especially as a sufferer of anxiety, this kind of scenario is something that not only do I fear, but that keeps me awake at night worrying what would I do in that situation. As I started reading Fierce, and felt the fear rising in my chest, part of me wanted to close the book and go and hold my children close, and yet the other part of me was compelled to read on.
The story takes place over just three hours and I’m certain that for the whole duration I held my breath. The way that Phillips writes so beautifully, and with such vivid description, about every sound, every footstep, every moment of terror, leaves you feeling all of those emotions with every turn of the page, and I found myself devouring the whole book in one long heart thumping state of panic.
Alongside Joan and Lincoln there are several other characters intertwined within the plot including an elderly retired teacher, a young girl, a new baby, and the gunmen themselves. Although we do not get to know the gunmen as well as we do Joan, the story does touch on their motives which are both terrifying and abhorrent. In a world where acts like this have happened, and do happen, it left me feeling extremely anxious that the motives of these killers have no doubt been shared by those who have committed such heinous crimes for real.
As the book came to an end I felt so many different emotions – fear, relief, confusion, hate – but most of all respect for Joan as a Mother. I like to think that in the same situation I would be like Joan, and I would fight tooth and nail to keep my children safe, but I’m really not sure that, faced with such danger, I would keep my cool in the same way that she did.
Fierce took my mind to dark places that, as a parent, were terrifying to visit and, ordinarily, I would shy away from this kind of book to protect my own sanity. But somehow Fierce didn’t leave me feeling that way as, although difficult to read, it was also incredibly easy. I genuinely can’t recommend it enough!
This sounds like a great read! I love adventurous books that put me on edge a bit and make me ponder things that are uncomfortable. They’re thrilling.
This sounds like a great read – I can’t imagine the extra depth it must bring being a parent as well and reading something like this – it could and probably does feel very worrying.
I haven’t been reading much lately, and it’s nice to hear about what others are reading. Sounds like an interesting book.
This sounds great!! I’m am avid reader, and this sounds like a book I would enjoy. My mom would probably love it as well! I love reading about book recommendations, as this is how I learn about new books and authors.
This sounds like a serious page-turner! I love books that are filled with excitement and suspense, but leave me thinking at the same time.
This sound like a nice and very interesting book to read. I will check this out and I am sure I will be having a great time to read it.
You make this sound like a very interesting book. That is when you know it is a good book when the people who read it make it sound interesting. Thanks for the review, I will have to put it on my list.
The story sounds interesting. I do not usually read thriller books but I would love to give this a try.
This definitely sounds like something that would suck me in. I wouldn’t want to put it down until I knew everyone was safe.
I love to read a good book and this sounds like one to check out! Love reading a good thriller.
I am not much of a bookworm compared to the hubs, but this sounds like a good read that he would be interested in. Thanks for the recommendation.
It sounds like this writer is really gifted, if reading the book stirred up all those feelings. That’s the goal for a writer, after all, to appeal to readers’ senses. I don’t know if I could read this, though – I might have nightmares!