Archive | September 2023

A Disappearance In Fiji by Nilima Rao

Sep11

Horrifying

A Disappearance In Fiji by Nilima Rao is an absolutely marvellous historical debut novel that I just could not put down.

The action is set in Fiji as we follow an Indian police sergeant, sent from Hong Kong, to help set up a working police force in Fiji. Unfortunately, at the police force’s head is a racist white man. The year is 1914 and it is white men who rule. Their word is law, it comes above the truth, as he would rather reports be rewritten than the truth to reign.

We witness a character having a crisis of conscience – tell the truth? Or toe the line? He must be able to live with his decision and to hold his head up high.

There is much racial prejudice and injustice within the novel. This should make us angry at the terrible conditions and treatment dished out to the Indian people – whether they were police officers or indentured servants. Everyone was judged on the colour of their skin and their gender. Very few saw the hearts that beat beneath the skin.

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A Storm Of Infinite Beauty by Julianne MacLean

Sep8

Stunningly Beautiful

A Storm Of Infinite Beauty by Julianne MacLean is an absolutely delightful dual timeline novel that will educate you as you read.

The novel revolves around the little-known Alaskan earthquake in the 1960’s. It was a catastrophic event for a seaboard town and one I had not heard of. We see the beauty in nature and also the dangers of the natural world.

As the story opens, the reader is in the middle of the quake. It is both an exciting and utterly terrifying place to be. Julianne MacLean draws us in with her descriptions as we witness the all-round devastation. My pulse rose and I wanted to read on.

The action is set in two different time periods – 1964 and 2017 – it is told in the form of memories and also present-day events. A family links the two time periods.

Within both time periods there are parallel themes of love and loss, infidelity and faithfulness. We see how people were judged and shunned in the past for what we now see is acceptable today (thank goodness). Judgement from others causes much unhappiness. We should look at our own lives and keep our noses out of what does not concern us.

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The Wife In The Photo by Emily Shiner

Sep8

Psychological Suspense Out Of The Top Drawer

The Wife In The Photo by Emily Shiner is an absolutely marvellous contemporary psychological thriller that had me hooked from the start.

I held on for dear life as the action twisted this way and that. I thought I had it all worked out – how wrong was I!

Our actions have consequences. We reap what we sow – or do we? Sometimes carefully laid plans come crashing down. Other times we might just get away with murder!

The Wife In The Photo is cleverly constructed and extremely well executed. The reader witnesses the murder in the opening scenes. The book is then written from before the murder and afterwards from several alternating points of view and also from diary entries.

Are monsters born? Or are they a product of their environment?

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The Gingerbread Christmas Village by Kiley Dunbar

Sep8

Nostalgic

The Gingerbread Christmas Village by Kiley Dunbar is an absolutely charming contemporary Christmas book that makes you feel festive in September.

It is a nostalgic look back on Christmas gone by as well as creating new memories in present day, and also projecting forward to future Christmases’.

This is the essence of Christmas captured in a book. Christmas is not always perfectly presented. There may be unforeseen mishaps but Christmas is a time for love, miracles and people pulling together.

The idea of a gingerbread Christmas village has passed down through a family. Traditionally it is a village activity but seems to be dying off in the modern age until… Read the book and find out what happens.

Love is not just for the young. The lead character is sixty five years young but can still experience weak knees and a heart that flutters.

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