Faceless by Vanda Symon

Happy Thursday! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things Tour for Vanda Symon's standalone, Faceless. 

Billy and Max look out for one another. Billy is careful and clean, taking care to make sure that Max eats and brushes his teeth. She checks in with him and lets him know if she's going to be away. Which is why, when she doesn't turn up one night, he knows something is seriously wrong. 

See, Billy occasionally turns tricks for money. And Max has always been worried that something would happen to her. And this time, something has. 

Bradley has never picked up a prostitute before, but after a particularly bad day at work with his wife harassing him about his hours, he decides he's earned a bit of fun. Unfortunately, Bradley takes it to far. Now he's kidnapped the girl and he isn't sure what to do. 

Billy has no idea what Bradley's plans for her might be, but she knows she's in grave danger. And her only hope is that Max will find her before it's too late. 

My understanding is that this is an older title by Symon that Orenda has rereleased in time for International Women's Month and Homeless Women's Day. To that end, they have noted that a percentage of proceeds from the sale of the Faceless will be donated to SHELTER. 

This is, like Symon's other books, a multi-layered story. It hits on abuse, homelessness, mental health...

Billy, we learn, was kicked out by her parents after shaming them. Max's story is a little slower to come by, though it's clear early on that even though he's let himself fall pretty far in the two-ish years he's lived rough, he has a background that means he's not one to let a missing girl go unnoticed. 

And then there's Bradley, who begins as a beleaguered and overworked employee at an insurance company and turns into a complete sadist. 

As you've likely gathered, this is a rather dark read. But it's also a compelling one. As Max's background in particular is revealed, you can't help but hope for redemption on his part—that he'll succeed in saving Billy (who, I should add, is a strong character who uses all the resources she has at hand). 

Symon is a bestselling author in her native New Zealand with multiple award noms to her name. I would love, love, love to see her readership grow here in the States! 

Faceless is available digitally now from Orenda and will be available in paperback in August.