A short, gritty and mystery story taking place during the Covid lockdown in Melbourne can be the apt summarization of this novel by Australia based writer J.P. Pomare. Beyond its limited number of pages, this novel also has limited scope and a restrictive way of presenting the characters. Therefore, it becomes difficult to find a connection either with the plot or with its main characters as a reader.

As the story takes place during the third Covid lockdown in Melbourne, so its citizens must follow 8 PM curfew restrictions to return home for at least four weeks.

Naturally, Lou is worried about her son Samuel who is yet to return home despite the strict curfew warnings. Keeping in my mind that he is eighteen and he has a girlfriend, she is unsure where he will be spending the next four weeks.

But things start unravelling soon when she doesn’t hear from him for next several hours and eventually when he reaches out to her, it’s quite in a strange way. Alarmed by his erratic communications and evasive answers, Lou decides to investigate herself.

She also involves her ex-husband- Marco to help in her search for Samuel. Eventually it’s revealed why they have to go on this journey together to retrieve their son from a kidnapper in the middle of nowhere.

Although seasoned readers can guess about Samuel’s disappearance, it’s hard to predict the exact motive behind it. Still, the ending erodes the shock factors as so much transpires before that fateful moment.

Somehow it looks as if these are just two-dimensional characters trying to support a storyline which feels stretched thin at places. Therefore, this novel is suitable for binge listening if you have few hours to spare.