The Blurb
Georgie and her mother Cherry have had their ups and downs. But now they're devoted to each other – and when Cherry learns that she’s in the early stages of dementia, Georgie is with her every step of the way…
…Until she can't be. And that's when he steps into her mother's life. The one who's been waiting, watching, whispering.
In turns deeply moving and deeply chilling, The Youngster is about one woman's spiralling descent when her mother is taken away from her by a damaged younger man.
My Review
This was a tense book to read, and it had me holding my breath at times.
The book begins with the main character, Georgie, feeling unwell as she sits on a park bench with her mother, Cherry, who has recently been diagnosed with dementia. They have a close relationship, and through Georgie's thoughts and reminiscences, we learn that Cherry has been a charismatic woman, who is feisty and very much knows her own mind.
When Georgie's illness turns into covid at an early point in the lockdown process, she is hospitalised and is very ill, leaving Cherry with no one to care for her. At least, this is Georgie's supposition when she is conscious but nothing could be further from the truth. The titular Youngster, has insinuated himself into Cherry's life and erected a barrier between her and her daughter.
This made for fabulous reading. It was an utterly believable scenario and made for compelling reading. I could not put it down and I felt very invested in the story line.
The author wrote with authenticity of the empty streets during lockdown, along with the claustrophobic atmosphere of those who were locked inside within their bubbles. However, the thing that she accomplished so well was the gradual shift from dread and suspicion to Georgie's absolute horror of this man who she realises is coercively controlling her mother. What begins with the shock of her illness develops into something far more sinister with Cherry and the man she dubbed "The Youngster."
There were points at which I questioned the reliability of Georgie as a narrator. She is frequently confused following her illness. Could she equally be confused concerning her mother's situation?
This is an outstanding book. It oozes with tension. The author has written very skillfully and laid out her story in a way which was engaging and edgy. I wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a psychological thriller written with literary style. If you want a book which will get under your skin, then this is the book for you.
Book Details
ISBN: 978 1917090094
Publisher: Deixis Press
Formats: e-book, hardcover and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)
No. of Pages: 274 (paperback)
Purchase Links
About the Author
Bibi Berki is the author of novels, articles and podcasts, including psychological thrillers The Youngster and The Watch, and the film history series, The Kiss – The Women who made a Movie Masterpiece. She writes both fiction and non-fiction, and contributes to many sites and publications.
Bibi is based in South East London, where many of her stories are set. She is also the co-founder of Tempest Productions, which makes original audio stories.
You can also find Bibi at:
(ARC courtesy of the publicist)
(author photo and bio courtesy of the author's website)
(all opinions are my own)
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