The Cruelty

I won an advance readers edition print copy of The Cruelty by Scott Bergstrom, in a Goodreads first reads giveaway.

The Cruelty at first reads like it is going to be another coming of age teen angst kind of book. That is so wrong. What we actually have is the engrossing tale of a seventeen year old (at least at the beginning) girl who in the quest to rescue her father, kicks ass, takes names and leaves bodies in her wake. She lands in the middle of a spy versus spy world and has to learn quickly how to survive. I'll let you read for yourself how she does.

Scott Bergstrom does an excellent job of spinning a believable story out of an unbelievable premise: a seventeen year old taking on professional spies and big time bad guys. It works well, the author tells the story in such a way that I didn't find myself saying "yeah right". He advances the story methodically and logically suspending our skepticism and disbelief before we even realize it has happened.

The Cruelty is a fast paced action/adventure thriller with aspects of coming of age in a very different way. There is extreme violence, terror, espionage, the horror of human trafficking, gangster activity, globetrotting, high school drama and even budding romance. Pretty much everything a reader could want.

The Cruelty by Scott Bergstrom is not set to be officially released until next year (at least acording to my copy), but is currently available as an e-book. Lucky for me, I got an early print copy (neener, neener). Whether you wait for a print version or get it now as an e-book, I suggest you put this book on your to read list, and then read it! Enjoy!


Mike