By Heather J Fitt @HeatherJFitt
Narrated by Hilary MacLean @HIlaryMaclean1
Published by Hera https://www.herabooks.com/ @HeraBooks, Saga Egmont Audio https://www.storiesbysaga.com/ https://www.sagaegmont.com/ @sagaegmont
301 pages (8 hours 20 minutes) ISBN 9788728501078
Publication date 29 August 2023 (audio)
I was allowed access to an audio review copy on Net Galley https://www.netgalley.com/ @NetGalley. Thanks to the Author and Publisher for organising this.
The cover
First thoughts are a bit plain and dull but does have an impact and hammers home the title.
From the blurb
Can you see danger when it’s right in front of you?
When Edinburgh reporter Frankie is assigned a high-profile crime story about a series of sexual assaults, she relishes the prospect of her big break.
As she begins uncovering the truth behind women’s safety, online trolls known as incels start threatening her very existence.
Will Frankie uncover the truth, or will she become the next target?
The narration
Great narration managing to capture both the fear and frustration of the principal characters. Nice Scottish accent that is easy to understand without drifting into ‘Morningside’.
My thoughts
The importance of the start of a novel is well established and this one makes an immediate impact, but is no Pride and Prejudice. It sets out its stall from the beginning and is unflinching throughout in its coverage of horrible, shocking crimes but also doing so with a degree of honesty.
The main protagonist is Frankie (yes, another female with a male name) whose fledgling journalism career is in the doldrums and is reduced to producing filler and puff pieces. A gap on Valentines’ Day edition of the newspaper provides an opportunity for a serious piece, and it goes down well with readers, with lots of online impact. Frankie always swore that she wouldn’t become a feminist with ‘all that bra burning’ but now she has awakened an interest in female rights. Her partner Todd (described as ‘a bit of a dick’ long after I was thinking that) works at a gym and seems happiest when playing Craig, his friend, at FIFA on Xbox. His views are perhaps best described as locked in the past when it comes to relationships.
It is a timely written piece, in that even after a hundred years, women still face battles for equality. In recent years it feels not so much that progress has stalled but rather going backwards. Physical and sexual violence against women seems to be ever increasing and even elements of the police service appear to be making matters worse rather than better. The internet has brought forth a new wave of misogyny with so-called men’s rights advocates and incels. All of this is skilfully laid bare within the story line, and it is easy to see how to be on the receiving end of such abuse would chill you to your core. If the author has researched these forums, then she must have a strong stomach and a good shower. Nothing is black and white though and it is here where the narrative excels through its nuanced treatment of Liam. Liam, the third central character, is increasing pranked by his peer group which escalates into humiliation online. Something that thirty years ago would have required a ‘bit of living down’ but now thanks to an internet that forgets nothing, is now inescapable.
This is a tale of obsessions and unintended consequences. The danger of taking an interest and focussing upon it until it gradually takes over your very existence, where obsession blinds you to other possibilities. Where a goal is in sight, but insufficient thought is given to the consequences, not always intended ones, and the damage they may inflict. Easy to fall into, especially now with the influence of social media, but after a certain point it becomes difficult to extract yourself from without the help of outsiders.
Councillor Caldwell epitomises the attitude of many in his response to five women being raped, that women should ‘self-curfew’ and not go out alone after dark. As Frankie points out the rapist is a man, so surely it should be men who face any curfew. Of course, the predictable response is ‘one man’ not ‘all men’ and a curfew would be ridiculous. Modern men clearly have much serious thinking to do if life is going to improve for women.
The writing moves the story on quickly, which gives a sense of urgency before it begins to run out of control. There is risk and danger throughout, with vulnerable women always having the reader on edge, but it never becomes gratuitous or over graphic. The set piece is a little unusual and well executed, this is not a novel for second guessing and in the end, it is somewhat thought provoking.
Open Your Eyes is a crime thriller of the highest order, that delivers a serious message and does so in an unflinching manner. Perhaps a though read for some but then life is not all warm and fuzzy.
Open Your Eyes and the author’s other books can be purchased from Amazon here
The author
Heather was born in Scotland and after moving around Europe with her parents and sister, settled in Hampshire where she met her husband, Stuart.
After leaving the rat-race in 2018, Heather re-trained as an editor and proof-reader and entered the world of publishing. These days she works as a part-time freelancer and a part-time Commissioning Advisor for Bloodhound.
Heather was inspired to start writing her novel by the authors who have become her closest friends. Now the ideas are flowing she has plans to write several more over the coming years.
When she isn’t reading, Heather enjoys spending her time watching sport – especially her beloved rugby – and exploring the British countryside with Stuart.
Source: Goodreads profile
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