From Where I Stand [Hardcover]

Rising star Tabitha Suzuma is a writer of great sensitivity, who
tackles big issues while sustaining a thrilling plot.

'A disturbing and compulsive read about a very unhappy young
man... We care about Raven, feel for his suffering and are drawn into a
narrative that culminates in a major twist of the whole story.'

At one point, I had to put down From Where I Started because my
eyes were full of tears. Much as I wanted to read on, the blurred page
wouldn't let me. Suzuma put me right inside Raven's head - so busy with
fear and hurt and confusion on the inside and so stony and impassive on the
outside. I...crawled into bed with an indelible picture of the
grief-paralysed, alienated Raven imprinted on my mind. As a portrait of a
damaged adolescent struggling with his mental health, I found it sensitive,
powerful and heartrending...Suzuma explains and unravels the mystery with
honesty and care and gentle kindness, but without ever losing the pace and
tension in the plotting. I thought the whole book was a remarkable
achievement, and there are a whole bunch of adult writers in this popular
psychological thriller market who could learn a lesson or two from it.
There is an understanding of both character and crisis here that you don't
find often.

Highly recommended for all sophisticated readers over twelve who enjoy
contemporary settings, a realistic emotional landscape and strong,
thrilling plotlines.

Raven is a deeply disturbed teenager, who, after witnessing the death of his mother, is placed in foster care. The Russells do their best to earn his trust, but only little Ella manages to get through to him. Meanwhile, at school, bullies are making his life a living hell. An unexpected companion comes in the form of Lotte, a classmate bored by her 'ordinary' friends. Together, they track down Raven's mum's killer, with the goal of exposing him to the police. But their carefully crafted plan goes dangerously wrong and suddenly nothing is as it seems. Everything is falling apart and, ultimately, there is only one, final way out.

Raven is a deeply disturbed teenager. After witnessing the detah of his mother and living in a children's home, he's now been placed in foster care. His new family, the Russells, do their best to earn his trust but it's going to take a long time.

Meanwhile, at school, bullies are making Raven's life a living hell. And then an unexpected saviour comes in the form of Lotte, a classmate bored by her 'ordinary' friends. Together, they set out to track down Raven's mum's killer, with the goal of exposing him to the police. But their carefully crafted plan goes dangerously wrong and suddenly nothing is as it seems. Everything is falling apart, and ultimately there is only one, final, way out.

A page-turning psychological thriller from the highly acclaimed author of A Note of Madness.

Tabitha Suzuma was born in 1975 and lives in London. She has always loved writing and would regularly get into trouble at the French Lycee for writing stories instead of listening in class. She used to work as a primary school teacher and now divides her time between writing and tutoring. Her first novel, A Note of Madness was published to great critical acclaim.