When a missing child, Lucas Jones, reappears on his Uncle’s doorstep in his hometown of Medford after an absence of 12 years, the brief moment of joy is clouded by mystery. Where has he been? Where is his father who disappeared at the same time? And how is it possible that Lucas is still 11 years old? As Lucas is uncommunicative, it is left to Detective Sergeant David King and child psychologist Jean Symonds to attempt to find some answers from the few belongings Lucas returned with; little more than four Polaroids and a personal journal which speaks of his time in a place called ‘The Junction’...

The twists and turns at the core of Norm Konyu's The Junction steer just far enough away from cliches to make it an interesting read. While most will probably guess several of the plot points long before they are revealed, it doesn't really matter, because this is a tale where you're invested in the characters almost from the start.

How and why did 11-year-old Lucas Jones, and his dad disappear in 1984? And how on earth has Lucas returned, still aged 11, in 1996? The story unravels through interviews, medical and police reports, and ultimately, through visits to The Junction via the pages of Lucas’ diary, jumping back and forth in time, revealing pieces of the puzzle in a mystery that just manages to keep one step ahead of the reader.

Konyu's artwork is dark and unsettling, when it needs to be, and soft and heartbreaking at other times. It's a sweet, and rather sad tale beautifully realised.

8

Darren Rea