Compulsion

A gang of teenage youngsters is running riot on the streets. Responsible for a number of burglaries and car thefts, the police are at their wits' end trying to put a stop to the gang's activities. Terror and hatred have become part of everyday life for local residents and, just when it seems things cannot get any worse, the gang targets Shelby House - an old people's home. Supervisor Veronica Porter, her two staff and the nine elderly residents become the gang's most vulnerable victims yet as the thugs conduct a hate campaign against them, sending abusive mail, daubing graffiti on walls and shattering windows. The intimidation escalates until Veronica's own father is dragged into the scene of terror when, disturbing some of the gang members burgling his house he is put into a coma. But enough is enough. The senior citizens of Shelby House decide to take the law into their own hands and fight back... ** "A gang of kids from an overcrowded council estate is running riot on the streets. Break-ins, car theft, vandalism - these under-age criminals know they can continue without fear of lawful retribution. The neighborhood police are at their wits' end, while terror, hatred and frustration have become part of life for local residents. Then, just when it seems things can get no worse, the gang turns its full attention on Shelby House, a nearby old people's home." "The supervisor, Veronica (Ronni) Porter, her two staff, and the nine elderly residents in their care become sitting targets as the youngsters mount a hate campaign involving abusive mail, obscene graffiti and shattered windows. As their intimidation escalates, Ronni's own father is dragged into the horror when, disturbed by a burglary inside his own home, he is mercilessly beaten into a coma." "Apparently helpless, and unable to count on police protection, Shelby House's senior citizens make a fateful decision. Summoning up all their courage and guile, these seemingly easy victims plan their own campaign of retribution. And when the young thugs launch their most violent attack yet, Ronni finds herself trapped between two equally determined and ruthless forces...in a conflict escalating towards an unimaginable and nightmarish outcome."--BOOK JACKET