BOOK REVIEW: THE TWELVE LIVES OF SAMUEL HAWLEY by Hannah Tinti

Shane | 5 June 2017 | Reply

BOOK REVIEW: THE TWELVE LIVES OF SAMUEL HAWLEY by Hannah Tinti
Hachette Australia – rrp$29.99
March 2017
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
9 ½ /10

Hannah Tinti has crafted a riveting tale of badass Samuel Hawley and daughter Loo, whose lives are forever tied to the twelve scars Samuel carries on his body from bullets, and the one in their hearts where Loo’s mother used to be.

A man with a violent criminal past, Hawley is a deep, brooding presence, who is struggling to deal with his daughter’s teenage exuberance and need for answers.

Tinto tells the story skilfully – their lives are shown in flashback, with each bullet wound adding more to the story of Hawley’s life, his love of Loo’s mother, and his reasons for trying so hard to protect her, despite the past insisting on swirling up and muddying the waters of the present.

A magnificent book featuring intricately crafted characters, raw humanity, humour, suspense, and a climax that is unputdownable. More than that, it is that rarest of creatures: a novel which has one foot in the world of Quentin Tarantino’s films, and one foot in loving family drama. A movie version can’t be far away.