Monotone Masquerade (ePub)

''Monotone Masquerade is a savage read, swinging between painfully funny observations and painfully tragic consequences that are all too real—highly recommended.'' - Rose Auburn

Once you're a company asset, there's no cheap way out.

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Fifteen-year-old Justin Billings wants nothing more than to break the destructive chain of enmeshment clouding his deliberately sheltered adolescence. But Justin's newly found dignity threatens his scheming single-mother Wendy's benefit scam, of which his fabricated autism diagnosis serves as an integral cog.

Determined to flee Wendy's unbearable psychological abuse, Justin wittingly enters the North Wales care system, where engrained self-abhorrence ensures he's vulnerable to the unforgiving surroundings. Feral budding drug dealer and fellow resident Darcy Quinney sniffs his diffidence from a mile off and gleefully assumes Wendy's puppeteer role.

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''George Veck's storytelling prowess is on full display as he immerses readers in a chilling world of manipulation, vulnerability, and the pursuit of freedom. This gripping tale is a testament to Veck's ability to craft a narrative that leaves a lasting impact, making it a must-read for those seeking a compelling and unsettling crime novel.'' - Goodreads review

''Once again, Veck offers an authentic, gritty, and gripping slice of North Wales's societal underbelly. Monotone Masquerade is a savage read, swinging between painfully funny observations and painfully tragic consequences that are all too real—highly recommended.'' - Rose Auburn

''A masterful telling of a young man's struggle to survive in the modern world. Child abuse is always a difficult topic and George Veck handled it with professionalism and humanity.'' - Madalyn

''I liked how relatable the characters were, and how accurate the struggles were especially when they feel lost. It calls back to the environment in my own community and how, despite all the "help" around, people still lose their way.'' -. Robin Goodfellow

''I definitely recommend this book, also to people who went through hardship, had a horrendous childhood or had their own pile of serious struggles.''

''If you're looking for a coming of age story that paints a very real picture of what some youth must walk through, definitely join Justin on his journey to find real love and care in Monotone Masquerade!'' - Joshua Grant