- Paperback: 300 pages
- Publisher: Orenda Books (17 Sept. 2020)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1913193365
- ISBN-13: 978-1913193362
Synopsis
Film star Amelie Hart is the darling of the silver screen, appearing on the front pages of every newspaper. But at the peak of her fame she throws it all away for a regular guy with an ordinary job. The gossip columns are aghast: what happened to the woman who turned heads wherever she went?
Any hope the furore will die down are crushed when Amelie’s boyfriend Dave is arrested on charges of child sexual abuse. Dave strongly asserts his innocence, and when Amelie refuses to denounce him, the press witch hunt quickly turns into physical violence, and she has to flee the country.
While Dave is locked up with the most depraved men in the country and Amelie is hiding on the continent, Damaris, the victim at the centre of the story, is isolated a child trying to make sense of an adult world.
Review
A Song of Isolation by Michael J Malone takes a hard look at whether suspects in abuse and rape cases should be named before they are convicted. Amelie Hart walks away from her life as a famous film star, and settles for a quiet life, away from the lights and press with boyfriend Dave in Scotland. However, her peaceful life ends when Dave is accused of child sexual abuse. The press jump on the story and Dave finds himself vilified in the press and at the centre of a witch hunt. Amelie vows to stand by him but finds herself tainted by association and whilst David is in prison Amelie flees the country. This story shows how one accusation has a rippling effect, destroying many lives by association.
The question of whether it is right to publicly name those suspected of rape or child abuse before being prosecuted has been discussed a lot in the press recently after several high profile cases. Michael J Malone highlights this brilliantly in A Song of Isolation, showing the dark and destructive side of this, not just on the accused but also their family and in this case the accuser. The title is very apt, Dave has the support of his family and Amelie but still feels very alone, and in turn Amelie and his family also feel isolated as they hide away from the press. The other person who feels isolated is the eleven year old victim, Damaris who doesn’t really understand what is happening.
The story is told from the viewpoint of Amelie, Dave and Damaris, three characters I liked and felt invested in. In Amelie I admired her loyalty and continued belief in Dave’s innocence even at the expense of work; she could only return to film work if she denounced Dave. To escape the press and seeing the lies about her in the papers and on television she returns to France where her father was from. Even in doing this she feels guilt at living her life whilst Dave is in prison. Dave finds his life destroyed just because he is the boyfriend of an ex movie star. Being accused of child abuse means he finds himself on the sex offenders wing, the most dangerous in a prison. Not only that but his relationship with Amelie puts him in the spotlight with a price on his head. From inside prison he also has to watch his family fall apart, but yet he is still able to show compassion to others, including one of his cell mates. Damaris is the character I felt the most empathy for. She is the pawn in a game she doesn’t understand, a game that isolates her from her friends, and from her family in that she doesn’t understand the furtive whispers of her parents.
Michael J Malone builds the tension throughout, as we see Amelie try to start a new life whilst still living in fear of a stalker from five years ago, and Dave try to keep safe in prison. It is very dark in places, brutally honest and had me feeling many different emotions. He tarnishes the glitz of game for a murkier and more sinister feel, where lies and jealousy can ruin a life.
A Song of Isolation is an unsettling and moving look at the darker side of fame. Michael J Malone shows how a false accusation has a rippling effect, destroying not just the accused but also the lives of those around them. Beautifully written, with empathy and understanding but also with the brutal honesty. Hard hitting, emotive and complex this is another stunning book from Michael J Malone and one I won’t forget in a hurry.
I’d like to thank Orenda Books and Anne Cater for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
