In real life, justice is still being sought in the Beslan hearings. McCutcheon has picked up the story while it is still raw, and has created a disturbing novel that tunes into the thoughts that must torment many survivors. McCutcheon is a master of suspense; the story moves forward relentlessly, with no flashbacks. The minutes tick by, with a looming deadline. We learn about the original siege through the narrator, Katya, as she retells the horrific details to her captives at the same time of the day and year that the siege took place, two years on. The incorporation of well-researched historical facts into a perfectly crafted plot has a chilling fascination.

If there is any weakness, it is in the fictional characterisation of the six young women, all scarred in different ways by the siege and playing stark roles in the scenario, but lacking psychological conviction. As a prolific playwright, McCutcheon has a fine sense of drama and no pretensions to be a literary writer. His characters may be unconvincing, but his decision to tell the story from the women’s point of view highlights the central issues of justice and revenge. What drives people to acts of terrorism? Can we ever be justified  taking the law into our own hands? For a political thriller, this book raises questions pertinent to our time.