Wow. Simply. Wow.
I had never heard of the protests in Greenham Commons that had taken place from 1982 until 2000 (!) and the social movement that was behind it.
Despite it being a thriller, because there is a murder and we know who is the murderer, this is not a classical police investigation novel. We follow two women throughout the novel, alternating their stories, their present stories and the events that led up to it. On the one hand we have Hella, a young activist who protests against the forced eviction. She left the police school due to harassment and assault, pointing the finger at the patriarchy and now writes a PhD about the Greenham Commons Women’s Peace Camp. Molly, on the other hand, is a 60yo activist and photograph who has taken Hella under her wing. She has a lot of connection to activists, journalists and anarchists - people who wouldn’t be talking to Hella if it wasn’t for her. What comes next has not prepared any of those two women to face up with their past and their decisions.
I won’t spoil, but this book is grandiose! There is a lot of research about the Women’s Peace Movements, the political and social implications of it, the gentrification and so many other things. It was an extremely captivating read and I would like to recommend it to whoever is looking for a thriller-like novel, but a one that makes you curious and reflect about important social and political changes.
