I bought this book after reading the rave reviews by other readers, as it sounded as though it was the kind of book that I really enjoy. However, for me the fact that the main character - Social Worker Jo Elliot - was so obstinate, and behaved in a way that I found difficult to believe she would have got away with in real life, spoilt it. There were times when I was so annoyed by this that I nearly gave up but I persevered and in the end I was glad that I had. Even so, I still have rather mixed feelings about it, and would hesitate to recommend it to my friends. I shall try to get a copy of 'Beholden' and see if that has the same effect on me. On the plus side, the book is certainly different, but you do need to feel some kind of empathy for the lead character in a novel. If I had felt this, then it would have made the ending even more powerful.