Book review: Goodhouse

Set in a near-future America, where boys are genetically tested for criminality and sent to corrective schools if the results are positive, Goodhouse follows James, who has been in the system since he was three years old.

Set up for the ‘good’ of society, schools like Goodhouse claim to teach right-thinking and prepare their residents for integration into civilian society. But, in reality, they are brutal and oppressive places, with their own secrets.

Outside the school, the Zeros wants to rid the world of the impure children within.

The book begins as James is preparing to embark on his first community day and follows his story as he uncovers the truth about the world around him.

In Goodhouse, debut novelist Marshall presents us with a terrifying, yet grimly realistic portrait of a near-future America. Thought-provoking, and at times brutal, this thriller will surely be the basis of many discussions about the nature of society and the times we live in.