Everyone I know seems to have read Penance by Eliza Clark, so now it’s my turn. I have to say, Penance opens with one of the most graphic scenes I’ve ever read, it will be imprinted on my brain for a long time yet. The overall story has a dark theme as Penance takes the form of a book written by a journalist, recounting the events of the horrific murder of teenager Joan Wilson at the hands of three of her school-mates.
Opening sentence: This book is an examination of the 2016 murder of teenager Joan Wilson by three girls attending the same high school.
A book within a book
Journalist Alec Carelli interviews key witnesses, family members and gives a deep-dive into the life and motivation of each of the three girls arrested, Angelica, Frances and Dolly, for their part in the crime, and their relationship with Joan. What’s interesting is that Alec’s journalistic integrity is questioned from the offset, keeping you asking questions while reading.
Set in the (fictional) town of Crow-on-Sea in North Yorkshire, events take place in 2016 to the backdrop of the leave referendum result, so the underlying small-mindedness of this seaside-town comes into play and feeds into the girls’ characters.
There is also the fact that through Tumblr, they can easily access toxic communities, in this case, ones who glorify killers and have more than a passing interest in the occult.
If Crow was a ‘thin’ place, a tiny hell, did they want to embrace the darkness, or attempt to combat it?
Penance explores how upbringing, community and exposure to dark material online can have a horrific effect on impressionable young minds. Throw in the usual teenage angst, the wanting to be accepted and fit in, and you have a terrifying melting pot of a situation that unfolds here.
From its dramatic and gruesome opening to the themes it so eloquently explores, Penance was a great read. Layered and with something to say, it didn’t go the way I thought it would, always keeping you turning those pages.
This was my second read from Eliza Clark and her tone is addictive, if somewhat disturbing. Her take on the darker side of life she covered in Boy Parts is very much present here. I finished Penance a few weeks ago but still find myself thinking about it.
- Get your copy of Penance here;
- Published by Faber&Faber 2024;
- 407 pages;
- Book review rating:
Books on the 7:47 