This is a story of many parts encompassing the frequently fraught relationship between a father and his daughter set against a backdrop of manic religious fervour and the stress of strike action with a pinch of fantasy thrown in for good measure - a heady mix indeed!

Ten year old Judith McPherson leads a rather isolated life with her widowed father. Their routine revolves around their strong religious conviction that the End Times are approaching fast but such faith won't be a match for the bullies at Judith's school - or will it? Could Judith's model of the Promised Land, the Land of Decoration save her from the brutality of the real world? Whilst Judith focuses on her own daily struggles, her father is facing his demons too as he defies the union and joins the much hated scabs. Previously held beliefs and certainties are shaken and torn apart as the McPhersons' lives hurtle out of control.

There's no doubt about it, this is an unusual novel. At first it seems almost childlike in tone, with our young narrator Judith concoting her imaginary Promised Land out of old sweetie wrappers and cotton wool. However, as the narrative develops, the atmosphere becomes darker and more sinister as Judith becomes more and more convinced of her miraculous powers. It does get slightly confusing at times, spoiling the reading experience somewhat but I guess this serves to mirror Judith's own distress and confusion of fantasy and reality

With hints of Jeanette Winterson's Oranges are Not the Only Fruit (the religious extremism bits!), I found this a challenging, strangely enjoyable read and a promising debut but not quite the miraculous masterpiece the blurb would have you believe.