Cold Skin by Steven Herrick

They named me Eddie
after Mum's father
who died before I was born.
'A queit, stubborn bastard,'
says my dad.
I am not sure if he's talking about
grandad or me.

Title: Cold Skin
Author: Steven Herrick
ISBN: 9781741751291
Publisher: Allen & Unwin/2007
Pages: 264

A story told in verse, it is about a teenaged boy Eddie Holder, who lives in a small mining town, Burruga in Australia. The time period is after the world war II. He wants to leave school and work as a miner but his dad is dead against it. HIs brother Larry wishes to leave the town after finishing school. Their teacher, Mr Butcher is not a good man and is detested by most people in that town, including the Mayor.

Nothing much seems to be happening other than small fights. Then a beautiful girl is found murdered, and the suspicion of her murder falls on many men of that town. And truthfully anyone could have done it.

Told in the voices of Eddie, Larry and Sally, the teacher and Mayor, the story unfolds beautifully. Initially the voices do seem disjointed but tie up in a satisfying manner. Told in the form of verse, the chapters are at the most two pages and contain everything in a nutshell. Herrick has managed to hold that tension essential for whodunits until the end.

Eddie likes to observe people and draw his own conclusions. And it is from his viewpoints that we are able to get into the heart and mind of the characters in this fast-paced book. Works well as a YA novel.

And I am a sucker for poetry, I totally loved this book. Thanks to the author for my copy!