I had to read this for extension English class and I'm glad I did. The novel has sooo much to offer. The setting and the history, to the way the author portrays the 'protagonist' and her journey to resolve a government conspiracy.

Having studied it, there are minute details including the metaphors, symbolism, description and style that are mind-blowing and make you realise that there is so much to the history of the civil war conveyed by this book.

The language is powerful and plot well devised and the ending conjures up enough emotion that you feel for Anil. I think it's a great novel to study - so you really have to understand crime fiction, the history of the civil war and the symbolism behind some of the devises that Michael uses.