The Pharmacist: The most gripping and unforgettable debut

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I don't feel good about [the murder]," Hall said in the documentary, revealing that he agreed to a plea deal when charged with manslaughter in 2000. "I was just trying to get the heat off me. I just made up a story… I thought I had everything figured out. I was dealing drugs, and I thought I was a big boy."

This was a fast-paced well-written novel that kept my attention right until the end. The characters were well-developed and added depth to the storyline. This is the first novel I have read by this author, but it won’t be the last. Very enjoyable read!

A microcosm of society

A couple of years in, I needed a creative outlet — something different and that would help me switch off.” Starting writing short stories She says: “I qualified as a pharmacist in 2008 and started locuming. There’s a lot of responsibility with the job and I found it quite anxiety-inducing because I was worried I might make mistakes.

The Pharmacist is attractively written and the moral disintegration of the inhabitants due to their unwilling isolation and their not knowing how the outside is doing, is well developed. Wolfe is an interesting person to follow. Nevertheless, the book is not completely satisfying. There are a lot of questions raised (about what happened before, about the bunker, about the leader, about why so many unqualified people were selected to join) and you expect some answers. But as the book progresses, the story starts spinning in circles and doesn’t evolve. There are almost no answers given and the abrupt ending is naive and rushed. It feels like a sequel is needed, but the ending suggests this is not the plan. I liked the general idea of the book, the premises, the pace, the atmosphere that was conveyed, but was disappointed in the final quarter in which I expected answers and an original outcome, which didn’t happen. For Scottish-Egyptian debut novelist Rachelle Atalla, human behaviour is one of her greatest fascinations. Atalla's speculative literary thriller debut draws you in with its mounting sense of tension, disquiet and desperation She was a troubled and difficult person who I couldn't really connect with. Her dealings with others in the bunker, as their Pharmacist, were limited and most often, mundane. Once she connected with a couple of other people in the bunker I found Wolfe to be more human and thus, more likeable.More strange things begin to happen, and Alice struggles to separate reality from fantasy. Sometimes it takes a stranger and a detective to figure everything out! The Pharmacist ends its murder mystery by revealing that Hall was eventually released after serving a 13-year sentence, at the age of 29. "I took that time and tried to better myself… put it all into how it could have been prevented, but it's still an everyday struggle for me," he said in the film. "I ask this of myself often: How can I move forward when I know that I did wrong?" Taking down OxyContin

Not my usual genre but im grateful I was chosen to receive a early read as I found Rachelle Atallas penmanship completely captivating. It was probably the first time I wondered if I could write speculative fiction. You get to ask big societal questions that are harder to ask in a world that already exists.”Rachelle Atalla nails the claustrophobic atmosphere and brings this world to life convincingly in her impressive debut Highly original This horrendously claustrophobic, utterly absorbing debut. The fiercely controlled narrative beautifully translates the horrendous grip of dismal routines and tiny, stolen pleasures

Atalla's speculative literary thriller debut draws you in with its mounting sense of tension, disquiet and desperation' CULTUREFLY

A compulsive, claustrophobic but wonderfully compassionate read, beautifully written and set within a brilliantly realised world. Rachelle Atalla is a major talent and I can't wait to see where her mind goes next' KIRSTIN INNES, AUTHOR OF SCABBY QUEEN The characterisation is excellent as the remnants of the disaster try to adjust and attempt to live as normal a life as possible, and occasionally the shadow of life as it used to be arises as the survivors attempt to play games or read the few books available. “Unexpected beauty” In the dystopian, speculative thriller, people are living in what is known as the bunker while the outside world suffers the after-effects of what appears to have been nuclear war. If you ripped through Netflix's Don't F*** With Cats and found yourself searching for another intense (and disturbing) docuseries to watch, you'll be happy to hear that the streaming service is premiering a slate of binge-worthy documentaries this year. Rachelle has relished her recent book launches and is looking forward to more appearances at festivals over the summer. ‘Margaret Atwood is a genius’