Dark Chapter

At 29, Taiwanese American Vivian has realized her goal of living in London and working as a television producer. She treats herself to a weekend in Ireland, pursuing her lifelong passion of hiking in the wilderness, most preferably alone. She has no way of knowing that this decision will lead her directly into the path of 15-year-old Johnny who, thanks to the coaching of his older brother, is constantly on the lookout for girls he'll be able to coax—or force, if need be—into sexual submission. Vivian's encounter with Johnny in a desolate West Belfast park lays the groundwork for years of emotional and legal turmoil. What is striking about this acclaimed first novel (highly recommended for the Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger) is that not only is it based on an incident in the author's life, but the facility with which Li is able to intertwine the life stories of Vivian and Johnny, giving each substance and depth, sacrificing her own biases to create a clear sight line for the reader.