Disharmony: The telling by Leah Giarratano
Book One. Penguin Books Australia. ISBN: 978014356568.
(Teens) Recommended. Leah Giarratano was an experienced clinical
psychologist before she started writing. Her first four novels were
adult crime thrillers, featuring detective Jill Jackson. You may
have seen her as the host of the reality TV program, 'Beyond the
Darklands', which examines the crimes and motives of some of
Australia's most infamous criminals.
Giarratano now puts these experiences to good use in young adult
paranormal crime mysteries. Disharmony, the first in a new series,
sets up the main characters and the mystery, ends on a cliff-hanger,
and whets our appetites for the development of the battle for
humankind.
Most of the narrative focus alternates between Samantha and Luke. We
meet Luke in a juvenile delinquent's facility in Sydney, dealing
with bullying inmates and corrupt officers, and biding his time
until he can escape. He knows little about his biological family and
even less about the role he has to play in the fight between the
everyday world and the paranormal. In far-away Romania, Sam lives
with her adopted gypsy family, earning her way by telling the
fortunes of the 'Gaje' (non rom folk). Although Sam can actually
perceive the real problems, her teacher expects her to play the game
and tell the customers what they want to hear. Apart from her
growing dissatisfaction with this issue, the rest of her life is
happy, especially with the gorgeous Tamas finally seeing her as more
than a younger sister.
With the set up established, the subsequent action brings the two
characters together. Luke meets Zac who helps him escape, but of
course there are many more obstacles to overcome: Danger is
everywhere. Sam is scrutinised by the gypsy king, chased by Asian
thugs, and ultimately realises she will bring harm to her family if
she doesn't leave. These adventures are dealt with in detail, both
descriptively and emotionally. We see the lack of love in Luke's
life contrasted with the protection and security that surrounds
Samantha, and we want them to find each other. Interestingly, the
third narrator, a mysterious creature known only as 'Intellicide',
lets us know early they are siblings, which prevents romance
becoming too much of a focus.
This is an action-packed novel, which should appeal to both males
and females.
Trisha Buckley