Book Review: Prey, by Vanda Symon

Best tea-obsessed crime writer in New Zealand brings us a new Sam Shephard novel and I am here for it!

I feel sorry for Callum. Everyone else in that family can get in the bin. Johns is a misogynist git, who has decided Sam is out to get him, because of course he would interpret a woman doing well at her job as a threat to him.

Sam’s mum is as overbearing as ever. Her reaction to Sam’s information about being sexually assaulted as a teenager is of a piece with her usual responses to everything, as are her digs at Sam having to go back to work, and all of her parenting.

Maggi’s timely and sensible advice, Smithy’s willingness to back Sam up and Paul’s devotion to both Sam and Amelia, are heart-warming factors in a novel that has a lot of chilliness to it. From the weather to the family at the centre of the case, and the hypocrisy of church people, there’s a lot to chill the soul, but it’s leavened by the warmth of friends and family connections, and tea. Lots of tea.

Vanda, your tea obsession is showing.

Also, did you mean for Sam to have autistic traits? It might just be me, but Sam makes my autdar scream – she needs to move to think, over thinks everything, struggles with rejection, has vivid, empathetic emotions at the thought of someone/something being in pain, demarcating territory, carefully setting out her work space, makes unexpected cognitive leaps, is accused of being back stabbing when she’s being honest. I know, I shouldn’t read anything into it, just because I find personal resonances with these character traits, doesn’t mean the character was written as autistic, or even neurodivergent in any way. Neurotypical people can have those traits/experiences. I suppose. I know very few NTs well enough that I’d discuss those sorts of things with.

Back to the novel.

Symon describes weather in the best ways. It’s very tactile, I could feel the chilly wind and the drizzle. I enjoy her descriptions of Dunedin, although thanks to aphantasia, I’m using my memories of visiting Edinburgh last year to populate it with buildings and street, because Symon describes Dunedin as Edinburgh of the South. And my mum’s dodgy toenails as a reference for Mel’s feet. Thanks for the stomach churning description, Vanda.

The emotional heart of this novel is Sam’s empathy for everyone, as she navigates the deceit and guilt induced by oppressive religion, and the delightful relationship of Sam, Paul and Amelia. There’s a contrast between Sam’s family and the Freeman family. Sam trust Paul, she knows, despite the criticism, that her mum loves her. When Sam’s mum finds out about the sexual assault, she is shocked, in denial, and then is upset that Sam didn’t feel she could talk to her parents about something so horrific. Her first thought isn’t ‘What will people say?’, it’s ‘Oh god, how did we not know?’. The Freeman family care about reputation, and put that before love. Resulting in multiple deaths, vicious verbal abuse, assault on two police officers, and imprisonment.

The novel tangentially explores abuse of children and vulnerable adults in the Church, the bigotry of vicars and parishioners in the nominally ‘progressive’ Anglican Church. Having been raised in the C of E, I recognise the hypocrisy of Church people. No, really, there are some lovely people in the church, but there are also a lot of two-faced bigots who don’t live their creed. I think including the contradictions of the church, of Sam’s personal distress at being in a church, and the wide variety of people attracted to the church for its sanctity, as a neutral territory, a place of peace and safety, community, and also the gold bling on the get-up, the gossip, the social cachet, adds great depth to the novel. It is perfect for this particular mystery.

I cheated and skimmed the last two chapters once I was 100 pages in. I had to know! I went back to my place and enjoyed the journey, knowing Sam gets her murderer, which allowed me to enjoy tension, the twists and turns. It’s unorthodox, but some of us need spoilers to enjoy a mystery. It takes the anxiety out of it.

I want to mention the sweetness of the interactions between Sam and Amelia, they clearly draw on the author’s parental experience. The family scenes are really beautiful, a warm cocoon, and contrast with the outside world of crime and manky winter weather.

Sam’s adventures and forthright personality, her warmth and empathy, even for people who deserve a belting, meant I enjoyed the characters, while the mystery was deeply intriguing, with unexpected insights and twists, kept me reading for several hours, with only break for tea (the meal, not the drink). And then I resented having to put the book down to cook food and eat at the table.

I particularly enjoyed Sam’s obsession with tea and the proper way to serve tea. It was a light touch in heavy moments. If you’re in the market for a tea to try, I recommend Ringtons. Or Tea Pigs English Breakfast. Good sturdy teas, drunk with milk and honey.

It’s been a saga getting my copy of this book for the tour. The first one didn’t appear and by the time I let the tour organiser know, Orenda were out of ARCs and were waiting for the final copies to arrive. They said they’d send me one ASAP. I planned, if the book didn’t arrive in time, to do a promo post and review at a later date.

However, today, Saturday 10th August 2024, Prey arrived! I have devoted a very happy afternoon and evening to reading Vanda Symon’s latest novel and I can only say it’s been an absolute pleasure.