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The Christchurch Civic Crèche Case |
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A City Possessed: From the very first chapter, it soon becomes clear that author
Lynley Hood is not adverse to pulling punches. Dealing with the
sad and shocking story of one of New Zealand's most high-profile criminal
cases, this is a book to be taken seriously. Cataloguing events
surrounding and leading up to the Christchurch Civic Creche sex abuse
allegations, this is not for the faint-hearted as Hood attempts to break down
the wall of tall-tales, gossip and intrigue by carefully sifting the fact
from the fiction. Compelling as it
is, this is not an easy read and would be of most interest to those with some
connection to the case and to those who have dealt with the horrible fact of
child abuse. Through 15
chapters, Hood is careful to lay out her groundwork. This was obviously
not a work undertaken lightly, as Hood writes,``researching and writing this
book often felt like the literary equivalent of a solo crossing of
Antarctica''. The result of seven
years' work, A City Possessed is an in-depth look at what went on behind the
headlines. Detailed background,
in-depth interviews with most of those people closely involved gives the
impression Hood has endeavoured to leave no stone unturned in her quest for
truth. A work of almost
academic proportions, the book is a daunting prospect at first sight with
more than 600 pages seeming a lot to wade through. There are parts
that are heavy-going but I felt compelled to keep reading as Hood cut through
the jungle of gossip, lies and embellishments that surrounded the case. Although dealing
with such an emotive issue, Hood manages to maintain a non-biased approach,
giving the reader space and material to make up their own mind. However, in
places Hood is not against giving the occasional gentle push in a particular
direction, but never presumes it is okay to judge for the reader. A meticulous
analysis into the events surrounding Peter Ellis's conviction, this is a book
sure to provoke a strong response by showing how such a case could happen and
why. Hood devoted years
to researching and writing A City Possessed, and it shows. Even if the
subject matter leaves a nasty aftertaste, it is a book that makes a definite
impression |
