The Shadow World is a fictionalized account, based on a sensational event which took place in Auckland in February 2003 - the murder of a Japanese student by his fellows at an academy for overseas students. This powerful story is told through the eyes of four young people who come together out of need and loneliness. It follows them as they form relationships that were to be torn apart by murder and violence. The five parts of the novel follow the seasons which form a backdrop to the events, with the final section, Spring Again, ushering in healing and reconciliation. There is crime and punishment, brutality and harshness, but also love and friendship and ultimately understanding and forgiveness. This is a moving story based on real events.
