‘Sin’ by Shaun Allan

Shaun Allan asked me a while back if I would like to review ‘Sin’.  Being that I read a variety of books I thought I would give his novel a go, especially as I’m always eager to discover new authors.  Shaun has also written a number of prize winning short stories and poems.

Sin Matthews has gone missing from the mental asylum and Dr Connors is not happy.  He hasn’t got his lab rat to experiment on anymore.  Somehow Sin has managed to teleport himself out of the hospital with the aim of committing suicide.  But he wakes up on a beach instead.

You see, it all started when Sin picked up a two pence coin thinking it would bring him good luck.  The only thing is it didn’t, quite the opposite in fact.  The first time he flipped and caught the coin something awful took place and people died.  Flip, Catch; every time Sin did this more tragedies occurred.  There was only one thing for it, he would have to dispose of the coin.  Yes, that was the answer.  The problem?  The coin kept coming back.

Sin began doubting himself and ended up admitting himself into a mental asylum.  In order to forget things, he would sometimes become violent so that he was drugged up to his eyeballs.  But is Sin actually insane?  That’s for you to work out!

This story has been told from Sin’s viewpoint and it’s certainly different to any other book I’ve ever read.  I really like Shaun’s writing style, the wonderful wittiness and word play throughout shows Sin as having a good sense of humour.

‘Sin’ is an intriguing read which keeps you guessing to the end.  It’s a dark and quite often disturbing read, but that’s what makes it so great.

Whatever you do, don’t pick up any two pence coins off the pavement!

I give this book 5 out of 5.