A stunning debut from a truly original new voice in contemporary fiction
Rupture
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'Three possible candidates for the Granta U.K. class of 2013 are Ned Beauman, Joe Dunthorne and Simon Lelic. Lelic’s three novels are breakneck, intelligent 'social thrillers' that even invade my dream-life' David Mitchell, author of Cloud Atlas
Book Description
‘Find what you were looking for, Inspector?’ Every day the same question. A different uniform but the same question. They thought Lucia enjoyed being here. They thought that was why she kept coming back. But they were asking the wrong thing. She had found what she was looking for – she had found what she had been sent to discover – but she had found out more besides. The question was what to do about it. The question was whether to do anything at all. In the depths of a sweltering summer, teacher Samuel Szajkowski walks into his school assembly and opens fire. He kills three pupils and a colleague before turning the gun on himself. Lucia May, the young policewoman who is assigned the case, is expected to wrap up things quickly and without fuss. The incident is a tragedy that could not have been predicted and Szajkowski, it seems clear, was a psychopath beyond help. Soon, however, Lucia becomes preoccupied with the question no one else seems to want to ask: what drove a mild-mannered, diffident school teacher to commit such a despicable crime? Piecing together the testimonies of the teachers and children at the school, Lucia discovers an uglier, more complex picture of the months leading up to the shooting. She realises too that she has more in common with Szajkowski than she could have imagined. As the pressure to bury the case builds, she becomes determined to tell the truth about what happened, whatever the consequences . . .
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By Silky
Format:Hardcover
On the surface, Rupture is a simple investigation of a school murder. But the careful narrative - revealing each fact in a controlled way to keep you turning the page - is turbo-charged by the voices of the characters.
Lelic's choice to mix first-person testimonies of the crime with a more 'standard' approach to the detective novel is brave. But each individual character seems real - not just in their language but through their approach, life experience and personal view of the crime itself.
The effect is to catapult the reader through a twisting tale of the darkest side of humanity. The book tackles so many issues head on - child abuse, bullying, sexism, racism, homophobia, xenophobia - but without shoving them down the reader's throat as 'themes'. Instead, the issues remain in your peripheral vision as you concentrate on the story winding its way to a satisfying, and surprising, conclusion.
Overall this is an enjoyable, rewarding and fascinating book. Lelic takes a series of complex elements and fits them together easily. I can't wait to read his next one.
Lelic's choice to mix first-person testimonies of the crime with a more 'standard' approach to the detective novel is brave. But each individual character seems real - not just in their language but through their approach, life experience and personal view of the crime itself.
The effect is to catapult the reader through a twisting tale of the darkest side of humanity. The book tackles so many issues head on - child abuse, bullying, sexism, racism, homophobia, xenophobia - but without shoving them down the reader's throat as 'themes'. Instead, the issues remain in your peripheral vision as you concentrate on the story winding its way to a satisfying, and surprising, conclusion.
Overall this is an enjoyable, rewarding and fascinating book. Lelic takes a series of complex elements and fits them together easily. I can't wait to read his next one.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By Bama chick
Format:Paperback
Crime novels are not my thing and this is not a book I would be drawn into reading ordinarily. But I gave it a try after reading a few fantastic reviews and hearing friends rave about it. After two straight nights staying up way too late, because I simply could not put it down, I was left with one of those oddly enjoyable "book hangovers" that happens when the characters, voices and story linger in your head for days afterwards. I was astounded by the way the story so thoroughly twisted around my own feelings and assumptions from the beginning to the end. It was an emotional rollercoaster, in the hands of a clearly clever and talented writer, and I highly recommend others going along for the ride. You might be unsettled but you won't be sorry.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Maria2222
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
When a young teacher, Samuel Szajkowski shoots 3 children, another teacher and himself in a seemingly unprovoked massacre in the school assembly hall, Lucia May, the detective in charge, quickly realises that maybe this attack is not quite as unexpected as it looks on the surface and with her own experience of sexual harassment and bullying in her "man's world" job, she sets out if not to clear Samuel's name then at least to help explain why it happened, avoid it happening again and also to try and place the responsibility on who she perceives as the real perpetrators.
The main theme is bullying in its different shapes and forms. It shows that it is not only happening between children, but that adults are equally afraid of not conforming and leaving the stronger group. In that sense it is a frustrating read because this is a real problem that is so hard to solve - and I think the author puts it very well in this exerpt from the book: "Why was the onus always on the weak when it was the strong that had the liberty to act? Why were the weak obliged to be so brave when the strong had license to behave like such cowards?"
The story is told in the form of a compilation of interviews/conversations with the teachers, pupils, parents, and Lucia's colleagues, family and friends - a bit like "The Rehearsal" by Eleanor Catton. I like this mix of voices and overall the author does a great job in making them authentic and "compiling" the storyline, however, there are a few issues, e.g. Lucia's boss, Cole. Their conversations do not seem as believable and well-written as the rest of the book, but despite these few glitches, I found it very entertaining and highly recommendable.
One thing though... I agree with one of the other reviewers, surely the final edition of this fine book is not going to be tainted by a cheap and easy shot as we currently have at the police station - there must be a better way to move on!
The main theme is bullying in its different shapes and forms. It shows that it is not only happening between children, but that adults are equally afraid of not conforming and leaving the stronger group. In that sense it is a frustrating read because this is a real problem that is so hard to solve - and I think the author puts it very well in this exerpt from the book: "Why was the onus always on the weak when it was the strong that had the liberty to act? Why were the weak obliged to be so brave when the strong had license to behave like such cowards?"
The story is told in the form of a compilation of interviews/conversations with the teachers, pupils, parents, and Lucia's colleagues, family and friends - a bit like "The Rehearsal" by Eleanor Catton. I like this mix of voices and overall the author does a great job in making them authentic and "compiling" the storyline, however, there are a few issues, e.g. Lucia's boss, Cole. Their conversations do not seem as believable and well-written as the rest of the book, but despite these few glitches, I found it very entertaining and highly recommendable.
One thing though... I agree with one of the other reviewers, surely the final edition of this fine book is not going to be tainted by a cheap and easy shot as we currently have at the police station - there must be a better way to move on!
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3.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Gritty and dark - well written but very depressing
If you are looking for a cheering novel, or a piece of light escapism, this is not the novel for you. Rupture is grim, even disturbing, and is not a comfortable read. Read more
Published 5 days ago by BookWorm
3.0 out of 5 stars
Frustrating, but not bad for a first novel
I must admit that I was in two minds whilst reading this book. On the one hand, I really did admire the author's skill in weaving together the statements of the different... Read more
Published 7 days ago by NinaD
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful and heart wrenching.
This novel deals with a school shooting - the aftermath and the events leading up to the incident. Following the investigation of Inspector Lucia May, we are lead in what feels... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Liz Wilkins
5.0 out of 5 stars
brilliant....
quite simply ,one of the best books I have EVER read.Another GREAT book from the library.READ THIS....brilliant ! Read more
Published 3 months ago by gary
4.0 out of 5 stars
A thought provoking page turner
A very clever book centred around an investigation of a murder at a school. Each chapter is seen from a different person's viewpoint and the story has several unexpected twists... Read more
Published 6 months ago by I. Horswell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful
This is a powerful read covering many sensitive issues with a main theme of bullying. The storyline covers a shocking massacre at a school and the ensuing investigation uncovers a... Read more
Published 7 months ago by kehs
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Read
A very enjoyable read from a book written in an unusual style in terms of alot of the chapters being effectively witness statements. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mark9229
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping
A really excellent novel which I absolutely couldn't put down. Skillfully examines many forms of bullying, its causes and effects. Read more
Published 8 months ago by overwallop
4.0 out of 5 stars
Compelling, thought-provoking novel
Simon Lelic's novel is a very compelling read. Dealing with an event more usually thought of as American subject matter, Rupture deals with a shooting in an English school. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Ms. Robyn A. Karney
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved this book
I bought this book on Kindle not really expecting much but I was pleasantly surprised. It's great read and I was unable to put it down, very well written, the story line was... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Ms. Diane Lily Styles
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