Odd Child Out by Gilly MacMillan

William Morrow | October 2017 | 432 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Gilly Macmillan's latest release, Odd Child Out, continues DI Jim Clemo's story from the previous novel (What She Knew) where he took a mandatory leave after a case which still leaves him shattered. Though he is back into the workforce in this book, he still see his psychologist, Dr Francesca Manelli, from time to time and is slowly getting his act together when another assignment is handed out to him. 

Noah Sadler, a white teenage boy is found floating unconscious in the Feeder Canal. The person who was last seen together with him is his best friend, Abdi Mahad and he is an immigrant son of a Somali refugee. The Mahads had left for England from their immigrant camp many years ago and they have called Bristol their home until the tragedy happened. Aside from the sensitivity of the race issue, what makes this case complicated as well is Abdi is not talking about what happened on that fateful night no matter how the police and his family prod him. Whether if he is traumatised or guilty no one knows. Abdi later disappears, and get caught up by his fascination over a photo he has seen in Noah's father's exhibition before Noah's passing. His search for some answers relating to that photo is another highlight and mystery of this story. 

Odd Child Out may be a psychological suspense but yet it is also a story about friendship, family, race and identity and amid these elements media takes the center role where Emma Chang, former family liaison officer turns journalist (and DI Clemo's ex-girlfriend), is meticulous in digging her way through for a story and lead to a further clash with her former lover. Without saying or giving away too much about this story, all I can say is this is both a suspenseful and a heartbreaking story and a look of the Somali community through the eyes of the Mahads. A truly riveting suspense driven by a cast of interesting characters and I hope to see more of DI Jim Clemo in Gilly MacMillan's future releases. 

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