Skeletal - Katherine Hayton

                Skeletal is an entertaining and interesting novel set in Christchurch. Daina is a young teenager who has died tragically and upon the discovery of her skeletal remains, a coroner’s inquest into her death is held. The book follows that inquest as well as telling Daina’s story about the weeks before her death, including bullying, dealing with an alcoholic parent and a horrible death. The really interesting part about the book is that it is told from the viewpoint of Daina as she speaks from the grave and watches the inquest unfold. The bullying is written with realism and it is hard to read. The mental, physical and emotional abuse Daina experiences is harrowing. Not only does it make for a thrilling story but also a sad one. This is not just a story about bullying though. The author intertwines another twist that I won’t mention because it is just too good to give away but it will keep the reader guessing the whole way through. It’s always a delight to discover an author with so much talent and I can’t wait to read more from her.