Scarlet Ribbons by Anita Dawes is an engrossing, thought provoking story which leaves the reader with many questions. The novel follows the experiences of Maggie Haynes, a seemingly happily married woman, who after being knocked down by a car finds herself in a coma. During that time we are afforded a glimpse of what it might be like for someone, aware of their surroundings but trapped in a world somewhere between life and death. Whilst occupying this alternate state of consciousness, Maggie makes connections with other people, most notably David and Annie. Once Maggie returns to the real world, she has to try and make sense of both worlds whilst re-establishing her relationship with her husband. Dawes uses her novel to raise some important spiritual questions such as, is there a world beyond the one we know and is it possible to have connections with people that transcend our lifetime? I enjoyed this novel very much and Dawes skilfully makes an unusual story seem completely believable. Maggie is a likeable character who is easy to engage with and I found myself willing her to find the courage to embrace happiness. If you like a story that is more than just your average romance then I thoroughly recommend this one.
Party Games by E.J. Greenway is an absorbing tale of the treachery and chicanery of UK politics. It’s a story with a ring of such authority, I found myself drawing parallels with real life politicians. Greenway clearly has a strong knowledge of Westminster, which draws the reader into a world they may not be that familiar with – I know I certainly wasn’t.In the beginning, Greenway introduces us to lots of characters and it’s a bit disorientating trying to keep track of names and titles but this is soon dispelled as the characters come to life and become plainly distinct from each other. The story starts with a shooting and then Greenway astutely takes us back in time, allowing us to see the build up to this defining event.What I liked about this novel is the way Greenway gives a human face to characters who, in real life, we often despise. Through Rodney Richmond, the recently elected leader of the Conservative party, we see how power can be a poisoned chalice as his position takes its toll on his relationships with friends. Anthea Culverhouse is a strong female character, sidelined despite the fact that she has been the force behind Richmond’s success. We see the bitterness of characters that have devoted their lives to politics, at the expense of everything else, only to see success snatched away from them. Not to mention the journalists stirring the pot to ensure their own influence.There’s no doubt that politics is a cut throat world and Party Games encapsulates this and then some. An intriguing story which will leave you wanting to read the sequel.
Dying Embers by Glenn Trust is an atmospheric novel set against the backdrop of the struggle for racial equality. The action plays out in a small, rural community in Georgia during the late 1960s, as both blacks and whites deal with the realities of desegregation. Trust cleverly uses a variety of characters to show how every sector of society was affected by the changes, which were to rip asunder life as, up until then, the community had always know it.The novel begins as a warm tale of friendship between four teenage boys but everything changes as the local school prepares to put the desegregation laws into practise. As white racists spew hatred, events spiral out of control and a black youth is murdered. From the very outset, the reader is aware of tension bubbling beneath the surface of the pages as Trust uses the overbearing summer heat to foreshadow the danger that is just around the corner.It is a novel that carries a very important message, about both history and human nature and, it is Trust's skill in characterisation that allows the reader to actually feel the complexities of the situation. The teenage boys, whose innocence is poisoned by the behaviour of the adults around them. Carl Pell, an old black farmer, who has created a successful business against all the odds and who hasn't allowed the injustices and cruelties he's faced to define him. Louis Spannel, the white store owner, who does the right thing despite half wishing he could just look the other way. Darcy Rhodes, the sheriff, who fights tirelessly for justice for the murdered youth.I can't recommend this novel highly enough, it has both heart and social relevance and I guarantee you won't be able to put it down.
Having already read and liked Gone Girl, I came to Dark Places with high expectations. All I can say is those expectations were exceeded and then some. Gillian Flynn hooked me in from the very first page and the story consumed me until the very end. It's a story that centres itself around the Day family, a family whose motto bemoans the fact that they never have any luck. A motto that seems to be borne out when three members of the family are slain and another one is convicted of their murders.The murders take place in the early hours of January 3rd 1985 and the story is told from three points of view. The present day narrator is the youngest child Libby Day but her story is interspersed with an account of the day before the murders, told through the mother, Patty Day and the son Ben who was subsequently convicted of the murders.The most compelling character for me, maybe because hers is the only account told in the first person, is Libby. Traumatised by the murder of her family, she has retreated into a crab like shell but her inner life and silent observations of the people around her are hilarious.The real strength of this book, in my opinion, is the way Flynn has created characters who we should despise but who instead we connect with and can't help but like. Even the feckless father who has abandoned his family is humanised in such a way we don't completely hate him. By the end, the novel leaves us with a small hope that maybe the Days' luck could be about to get better but nothing's certain with this story and that's what I loved about it.
I loved A Single Step and so was delighted when the sequel, Before the Dawn was released. All I can say is Georgia Rose doesn’t disappoint. She finds the perfect balance between giving us quick reminders about the characters without re-hashing too much, which means the story flows seamlessly and could easily be enjoyed as a standalone.Emma Grayson’s life has moved on and she’s no longer the troubled individual she once was so, while we still get to enjoy her and Trent as a couple, this story is more action based than its prequel. The mystery of Melton Estate unfolds as it comes under threat from a group of Russian criminals. We get to know more about the other characters on the estate and when Cavendish, the estate owner, and his family are in danger, Emma comes to the rescue. I love the fact that Emma is able to credibly hold her own with the tough guys as she is in the peak of fitness from horse riding and an accomplished kick boxer.For me though, Georgia Rose’s real skill as a writer is most evident in the way she gets her readers to actually feel the emotions of her characters. I found it incredibly moving when Emma accidentally meets her ex-husband and they lay the past to rest. Also when Turner, a young estate employee, is traumatised by his experiences, Rose allows us to share in his humiliation and pain.Before the Dawn has a very happy and satisfying ending but Rose gives us just enough clues that the turbulent times aren’t over yet to ensure we’re anxiously awaiting the release of the final story in The Grayson Trilogy.
Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled is the story of a nineteen year old boy’s fall semester at college. Employing first person narrative, Bert Murray has created a voice that is both credible and engaging. On the surface, it would seem that, as a middle aged woman, I’d have little in common with a self-obsessed, whiney teenage boy. The truth is though we’ve all been mired in teenage melodrama at one time or another so it’s not difficult to identify with Colin. The strength of the novel, for me, is how Murray manages to create the almost claustrophobic atmosphere of a college campus; a sort of world within a world, where every event takes on a heightened sense of importance and urgency. When Colin’s romance with his dream girl, Jasmine, collapses, his whole world implodes and, the same obsessive compulsion that fuels his love of the Beatles and in particular John Lennon, latches onto Jasmine and what might have been. There is a lot of humour in the novel especially where Colin’s self indulgence is concerned and his relationship with jock friend, Karl. However, there are also moments of real poignancy such as Murray’s portrayal of Chester, a sensitive boy whose fragile hold on the world slips into mental illness and Mrs Vesquez, a teacher who views Colin as a surrogate son whilst grieving for the loss of her own boy. Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled is a fast flowing read which you won’t want to put down and there are some real laugh out loud moments as we are reminded of the folly of youth.
Blood-tied is a gentle mystery that intrigued me from the very first page. The novel opens with a prologue in which a murder is committed, ensuring that the reader’s interest is hooked. The story then slows down as we are introduced to Esme Quentin, a researcher with a troubled past, whose sister is in hospital after being found unconscious. It soon becomes clear to the reader that the mystery surrounding what happened to Esme’s sister is somehow connected to the opening murder. The painstaking resolution that comes about through Esme’s research reminded me of a jigsaw puzzle, where each piece of new information represents a small clue. I really like the fact that Esme and her friend Lucy, who works in the records’ office and assists Esme with her research, are very ordinary women with no particular skills when it comes to crime fighting. Rather they use their tenacious love of research to get to the bottom of the situation, which felt like a bit of a victory for those of us who are library geeks. I loved the relationship between the two women as it felt like a real friendship. Wendy Percival gives us a well written, engaging story with a very satisfying conclusion.
