Am not sure I can agree with Deborah Crabtree's assessment that this novel "is one for the mum-lit shelves" - although there are certainly many mums who will appreciate this book immenseIy. But anyone who wants an insight into the mind of a psychopath (corporate or otherwise) will find this book richly rewarding. Deborah reckons the the style is "tedious" and wonders whether it is supposed to reflect the tedium of her life. I would suggest that yes, it does reflect the tedium of her stay-at-home life which many women will identify with, but it does more than that..we also get a sense of the deliberate and methodical way in which this particular psychopath operates. Within her own warped mind there is an internal logic, a kind of measured response to events that enables her to maintain her sense of control. The use of the 1st person, present tense was very powerful for me; she was like a secret voice whispering in my head and it was hard to get her out! That to me is pretty impressive writing!

Yes, to consign Still Waters to the 'mum-lit shelves' would do it an injustice and rob many other readers of the chance to experience it. It's a powerful, well-written book with the ability to convey the thoughts and emotions of a psychopathic mind so realistically and convincingly that many readers will relate to those thoughts and emotions, albeit fleetingly and with aversion. And - surely the ultimate factor in assessing whether a book is 'goo' or not - it's darn hard to put down!

Still Waters is a gripping book of great psychological depth, despite its accessible style. The topic may not be for the faint hearted, but the joy of this book is the emotional journey it takes you on, as you grapple with the dark. Noli tells a remarkable story that I would liken to masterfulness of Camus' "Outsider". Her character's voice in the first person was a master stroke. You never really know the leading character's capacity or her reliability as the story teller.