Seventeen-year-old Peter Blankman is a maths prodigy. He also suffers from severe panic attacks. Afraid of everything, he finds solace in the orderly and logical world of mathematics and in the love of his family: his scientist mum and his tough twin sister Bel, as well as Ingrid, his only friend.
However, when his mother is found stabbed before an award ceremony and his sister is nowhere to be found, Pete is dragged into a world of espionage and violence where state and family secrets intertwine. Armed only with his extraordinary analytical skills, Peter may just discover that his biggest weakness is his greatest strength.
White Rabbit, Red Fox is an intelligent, shocking, and incredibly fast-paced psychological thriller. It is full of twists and turns that leaves the reader desperate to read one more page. Author Tom Pollock dangles clues and twists just out of reach, before flipping the entire story on its head.
It opens with an revealing and highly accurate depiction of mental health and an anxiety attack. The honest, blunt way Pollock treats mental health throughout the story is refreshing, tackling it head on. It is no wonder Pollock is an ambassador and blogger for TalkLife, the peer support network for youth mental health. He is unafraid to use his lived experience in his stories, making them rich, authentic, and creditable.
It is a book that is hard to review - saying too much will destroy the read for everyone. The ending still has my brain in a tangle. Clear your calendar for the weekend, and get set for a rollercoaster of a read. White Rabbit, Red Wolf is everything you expect it to be, and nothing you expect it to be. A must read for thriller fans.
Reviewer: Rebekah Fraser
Walker Books, RRP $18.99