‘The Father's House’ by Larche Davies

Published by Matadors,
28 August 2015.
ISBN: 978-1-78462-366-1

Lucy and Paul live in a house in London and are looked after by an “Aunt” Sarah. The house is actually owned and run by a Father Copse, member of a religious cult headed by a God like figure known as the 'Magnifico'.

Along with other children in the vicinity they are educated in a special school run by the strict religion. The aim is to groom them to infiltrate the outside world ready to take over every country.

However several things happen to Lucy to slowly make her lose her faith in the strict sect she has been brought up in and she plans her escape. The trouble is she wants to take Paul who is only three years old along with her so it needs extra careful planning. People she thought she could trust turn out to be infiltrators spying in the name of the Magnifico and she struggles to get away safely. She can't even trust the police. Added to this, who is the mysterious 'tenant' living on the top floor of the house? All the person's meals are sent up by a dumb waiter and they are kept locked in at all times.

Lucy makes friends with two other children also wanting to run away and so begins their bid for freedom making for absorbing reading.

I did enjoy this book, but I can imagine that teenagers of about fifteen or sixteen would enjoy it even more. I think my grand daughter at that age would have loved it. It is well written and moves at a good pace throughout.

It tends to make me wonder how many of these so called 'religions' are actually in existence and have grand illusions of 'ruling the world'? Probably more than we would like to think!

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Reviewer: Tricia Chappell

Larche Davies studied law at the universities of Aberystwyth and London. She worked in London as a barrister and legal journalist, and then in Cardiff as a judge in employment tribunals. She has five children and seven grandchildren. The Father's House is her first novel. She started writing it after she fell over the dog and broke her leg.

Tricia Chappell. I have a great love of books and reading, especially crime and thrillers. I play the occasional game of golf  (when I am not reading). My great love is cruising especially to far flung places, when there are long days at sea for plenty more reading! I am really enjoying reviewing books and have found lots of great new authors.