First published 2001
Hugo Dinsmore loses his parents when he is still very small. The boy moves in with his country relatives, who mock his delicate manners and slight build. They torment him daily for being different from their rough ways. Hugo endures their cruelty until something changes his fate. His clear, beautiful singing voice draws the notice of a dangerous man. The locals call this man the Eggman. He controls crime in their area, and people fear him. The Eggman decides to take Hugo under his wing. The boy must now navigate between his gentle upbringing and the violent world of his new mentor. Hugo faces a choice between the safety of conformity and the dangerous path of his natural gifts. His voice becomes both his salvation and his burden.
Genres: fiction, drama, literary-fiction, 20th-century, coming-of-age, crime
Vibes: dark, emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family, mentor-mentee
Setting: Country, Countryside
Period: 20th Century
276 pages · Paperback · Random House UK
Content warnings: abuse, violence