RULES – Leave no trace, Trust no one, Stay one step ahead, Prep for the worst……..Amber’s an expert when it comes to staying hidden – she’s been trained her whole life for it. But what happens when the person you’re hiding from taught you everything you know? When a letter from her dad arrives, Amber knows she’s got to drop everything and run. He’s managed to track her down and he’ll stop at nothing to draw her back into his extreme ‘prepper’ way of life. Now the Rules she’s’ been trying to escape are the ones keeping her safe. But for how long?

The Rules by Tracy Darnton is a gripping YA thriller, keeping you guessing right till the egde-of-your-seat ending. Rules to live by that keep you safe and give guidance are one thing – rules that control your life and keep you prisoner are another, and this is what Amber is running from. Sadly her father is the culprit – the person she should be able to trust most in the world is the person trying to control her and with her mother gone, Amber is on her own. Not even social services can protect her. Amber’s fear but also her grit and determination are palpable from the first page, as the narrative shows us the dark side of being a ‘prepper’ – people who prepare for impending apocalypse, no matter the cost. Set in the run up to Christmas, adding to the isolation and loneliness Amber feels, it seems she is doomed to spend her life on the run. A chance encounter with a face from the past brings some light relief as we meet Josh, someone who has suffered his own traumas but manages to stay positive. And positivity is something Amber really needs if she is going to escape from her father. In light of current circumstances, this story became unnervingly more real -a great read for fans of contemporary YA thrillers.

Tracy Darnton’s previous YA novel, The Truth About Lies was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2019. Find out more at www.littletiger.co.uk.

With thanks to Little Tiger for sending me this book to review.