Good Me Bad Me

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It is interesting to note that Land seems to steer clear of the most fascinating aspect of the story and the reason which initially hooked me into this novel. The warning bells were huge in this novel, often leading me to question if the events in the novel could have been turned in a completely different direction, by the selection of a different foster family for our lead.

A teenage girl with a very troubled past reports her mum to the police for the terrible things she has done, and is fostered by her psychologist. Ali Land’s debut novel Good Me, Bad Me has as its narrator a distinctive female voice, one that grabbed this reader from the very beginning as she tells her story of escape and survival. Annie becomes Millie, and is fostered into the care of Mike, a trained therapist and his wife, Saskia.These parts are the hardest to read--at times, I had to put the book down and just walk away as the dark, brutal images got under my skin. Though a voracious reader from a young age and a keen observer of the world, it took Ali over thirty years to put pen to paper but she sure is glad she did!

Ali Land's Good Me Bad Me is an intensely compelling exploration of nature versus nurture wrapped up in a page-turning psychological thriller. The clever writing keeps us captivated waiting to see if she will retaliate and whether her appeasing words are genuine and consolatory, or a smokescreen for revenge.Okay already, we know you are royally messed up, as any self-respecting daughter of a serial killer would be. After witnessing her Mother commit abuse and murder- abuse that is only ever alluded to and not detailed (so clever as it leaves your mind to wonder - and the mind of imaginings can be much more scary and brutal) Millie can no longer watch on and goes to the police - a decision she struggles with throughout the text- her love for her Mum, despite what she did to her and to the nine bodies, is still there.