Allegation - R G Adams

An evil monster exposed? 
Or an innocent father condemned?

Can looks really be deceiving? That is what social worker Kit Goddard is out to discover when she is asked to tackle a high profile case.

Matthew Cooper, a prominent member of a small community in South Wales has been accused of historical sexual abuse. While allegations are being investigated, the social services step in to remove the accused from his family and home before a formal assessment is made. This case falls into the hands of Kit Goddard, an inexperienced but intuitive social worker. With support from her colleagues, she gets down to finding out the truth even as the rigid walls of influence and affluence threatening to keep her out.

Adams plunges the reader right into action, filled with acute observations placing Kit at her workplace, simmering with referrals and bureaucratic hurdles. The writer’s experience in the sector is apparent as the initial chapters offer pertinent insight into the pressures faced by social services, a stark realisation of the mammoth responsibility they shoulder.  

Kit’s past is weaved in well with the case, each running parallel till it reaches a point when they blend in. As tensions run high towards the end, the suspense and the pace work really well at keeping the pace up.

As Kit finds herself knee deep in the case, the story is told with a great deal of sensitivity. The plot unravels slowly and at each stage you feel for Kit Goddard as she battles demons – in the past and the present and has the reader cheering for her.

There are lots of well etched peripheral characters likely to be the recurring fixtures in this police procedural series. Apart from her colleagues Ricky and Maisie and the DI there is an interesting angle of the new manager towards the end. Adams establishes their dynamics well here in preparation for the next case.

Overall, a compelling debut that handles a sensitive issue very well. No wonder then that this story has already been optioned for TV. 

I will be definitely looking out for Kit Goddard's next case. You will too, once you read this one.

 Allegation by R G Adams is published by riverrunbooks.