A murder, its aftermath for the victim’s sister, and the killer’s drive to prove himself to his brothers form the central strands. Secrets and a breaking wall of silence link them.
More about this book
There are only three rules on the Goldsworth Estate 1. Don't let your guard down: Shaniqua Curtis is murdered by a gang after a night out - only minutes from her front door. 2. Don't trust anybody: Her sister Aurora is left devastated by the murder, but she is unaware that even the people closest to her are keeping terrible secrets about that night. 3. Don't snitch: Troy Banks is the killer. Determined to get into a gang and prove himself to his brothers he will stop at nothing to get what he wants ... however the wall of silence on the estate is breaking. Shaniqua's murder will tear apart friendships, test relationships and change lives forever. Davie J. Toothill is an exciting new voice in crime fiction. Armed is a novel with great cross-over appeal, from young adult upwards.
MurderThe available evidence does not establish the book's treatment of this theme. See Confidence & Basis for the evidence gap.SecretsThe available evidence does not establish the book's treatment of this theme. See Confidence & Basis for the evidence gap.Community silenceThe available evidence does not establish the book's treatment of this theme. See Confidence & Basis for the evidence gap.
Consider
Violence and harmViolence
Personalised Fit
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Shaniqua is murdered by a gang, while people close to her sister Aurora keep secrets about that night; the wall of silence is described as breaking.Provisional readingProvisional: the reviewed evidence does not establish how the book treats this theme. The evidence gap is listed under Confidence & Basis.Provisional: the reviewed evidence does not establish how the book treats this theme. The evidence gap is listed under Confidence & Basis.
Talk about: If people are afraid to speak, what might help them decide whether to come forward?
Interwoven consequences
The murder is presented as a turning point that affects friendships, tests relationships and changes lives.Exploratory / explanatoryExploratory / explanatory: the book explains or explores the subject without an established evaluative position.Exploratory / explanatory: the book explains or explores the subject without an established evaluative position.
How the book presents it: The plot links one violent event to consequences across several relationships, giving the crime story a wider personal focus.
Talk about: If relationships are tested by the murder, do different characters respond to that pressure in different ways?
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Why It May Be Worth Reading
The book brings together grief, gang involvement and pressure to keep silent, with the murder affecting friendships and relationships. These strands may prompt thought about how a community responds when people hold back information.
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What Deserves Attention
The premise includes a gang murder and a bereaved sister. These are central, not incidental, elements; consider whether this crime-focused material feels right for your reader at this time.
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A Conversation Worth Having
If people close to Aurora are keeping secrets about the night of the murder, what might make it difficult for them to speak openly?
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Reading Approach
Consider reading alongside your child if the murder premise feels intense. Pause at a natural point to check how they are responding, and let them decide whether to continue.
Confidence & Basis
Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.
What remains unconfirmed
Murder, secrets and silence: The reasons for the secrets and how the silence changes remain unclear.
Interwoven consequences: Which relationships change, and how they change, are not specified.
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