The first section of this gripping debut—the first volume in a trilogy—takes a serious, disquieting look at the sometimes sordid realities of adolescence and adulthood as he depicts the bullying, bad parenting, and violence encountered by a smart and sensitive young man. The novel begins in 1976, when 13-year-old Malcolm Wilson lives with his aloof father in Scotland during the school year and with his promiscuous Canadian mother in Vancouver during the summer. Malcolm and his best friend, Hardly, are targets of trickery and beatings by schoolmates; a particularly unnerving incident occurs in their refuge, an old tree. The one time Malcolm fights back, he accidentally strikes a teacher. He moves to Vancouver and, helped by the kindness of his wealthy summer employer, attends a private school. The second section, set 20 years later, is a fast-paced, romantic thriller with sleuthing, a dark secret, and a vile, maniacal character. Malcolm, now 34, lives a comfortable, drama-free life as an unmarried accountant until he meets the lovely Heather Postman, whose mysterious secret sends them off on a suspenseful caper . Malcolm can’t get at Heather’s secret and doesn’t know whom to trust. Crosbie’s novel captivates from the get-go with spine-tingling drama and penetrating character portrayals that send a strong message about family, and friends who become family. (BookLife)