Review of THE MAN WHO READ BOOKS by Rachid Benzine (New Release)

 3.5 Stars

This novella describes the lives of Palestinians since the creation of Israel in 1948.

In 2014, Julien Desmanges is sent to Gaza to photograph the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. During a ceasefire, he comes across a bookseller, an elderly Palestinian surrounded by stacks of books. When Julien asks the man, Nabil Al Jaber, if he can take his photo, Nabil responds that Julien must get to know him first. Over the next few days, Nabil tells his life story: his birth in 1948 to a Muslim mother and Christian father, his family’s displacement during the Nakba, his growing up in a series of camps, and his adult life. Included throughout are references to books which helped Nabil to understand the world and to survive.

The book is narrated in second person point of view. I imagine the author’s intention with this choice is to help the reader feel s/he is part of the narrative. Unfortunately, I’m not a fan of this perspective. I find it artificial and it just becomes annoying after a while.

The situation of Palestinians is highlighted: “The economic exploitation, the restrictions on movement, the unemployment, the poverty, . . . total dependence on the occupier, the expanding colonies, the absolute absence of any political breakthrough that might offer . . . hope.”

Obviously, the book is also about the power of literature. Nabil speaks of how books let him escape: “’We were all in the same place, still embroiled in our poverty and suffering, but for a few hours we were transported elsewhere.’” Literature provides a human connection: “’To read is to enter into the minds of others, to be with them, to find yourself in their words.’”

The subject matter is so important; what is happening in Gaza needs to be understood in light of events over the last 78 years. In a letter to the reader, the author explains that his purpose is to forge a connection and emphasize our shared humanity. Unfortunately, the style sometimes made me feel I was reading a report rather than a novel: “’On the night of the thirty-first of December 1947, Balad al-Sheikh was purged of its Arab inhabitants by the Palmach, an arm of the Haganah’” and “’Israeli Military Order No. 50, issued on the eleventh of July 1967, was basically a list of all our stolen rights.’” (Readers unfamiliar with groups like the Palmach, the Haganah, and the Irgun may feel overwhelmed.)

This is not an easy read. Nabil speaks of his people being locked in a struggle since 1948, a struggle to which there is no end in sight. He ends his story by describing himself as being “’lost in this absurd, inhuman world, with all its rage.’” Though short, the book is emotionally impactful.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Review of WHALE HARBOR by Mary Beth Keane (New Release)

 3.5 Stars

This novel, about the Joyces, an Irish family of eleven brothers, begins in 1963 and spans the next forty years.

A tragedy causes the family to be split apart. Macdara, the second oldest at 16, is offered a job on a Montana cattle ranch and he sets off. A younger brother, 9-year-old Rian, begs to come along and Macdara promises to bring him to the US once Rian is old enough. Four years later, Rian disappears; people suspect that he has run away. It’s that disappearance that haunts the brothers, especially Macdara, for decades.

The relationship between Macdara and Rian is wonderfully depicted. Rian is a spirited, curious child who follows his older brother like a shadow. When Macdara leaves, there’s a heart-breaking scene of Rian running after the car. Because Macdara doesn’t keep his promise to his brother, he is wracked by guilt when Rian disappears.

Macdara’s relationship with his father Cathal is complicated. Macdara has difficulty accepting many of the decisions Cathal makes and blames him for breaking up the family. It is interesting to see Macdara’s growth as he navigates different stages of his life. His perspective of others, including his father, changes over time. For instance, when Macdara becomes a father, he realizes that as a parent, he had no idea what he was doing: “Who ever knew what they were doing, what was best, until after the fact?” It is only later in life that Macdara realizes he never considered things from his father’s perspective; he focused on his feelings at leaving his family, but Lillie tells him to consider how parents felt when children left.

It’s also interesting to see Macdara realize that his brothers remember events differently. Depending on their ages when an event occurred, they may in fact have no memory of something that to Macdara is unforgettable. Macdara resents Nuala, but his younger brothers have an entirely different opinion of her.

The author must be given credit for making the brothers distinct enough that it is not difficult to remember who is who. What is lacking, however, is tension. Especially in the middle, the book reads more like a summary of marriages and births with large gaps. I found this section slow. The ending is not entirely satisfying because, though there is a resolution of sorts, there are unanswered questions.

Initially this book reminded me of Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor – a whale washes up on shore and the community is subjected to the stench of a rotting carcass. Then there’s the arrival of people wanting to study the community and using the language skills of a young person. From these similarities however, the books go into entirely different directions and, though the whale is a symbol in both, it symbolizes entirely different ideas.

The novel tells an engaging story which emphasizes how being an adult means being able to understand behaviour from another person’s perspective and accepting that decisions which might initially have seemed cruel or irrational may in fact have been well-intentioned.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Review of MADELINE MCKNIGHT SIGNS OFF by Evan Brooke (New Release)

 4 Stars

This novel, both funny and heart-breaking, reminded me of The Correspondent by Virginia Evans.

Madeline McKnight, a former Wall Street analyst, has terminal cancer. She contacts Bri Davis, the daughter of her estranged best friend, and asks her to care for her at the end of her life. In return, Madeline promises Bri 2 million dollars. Bri, a nursing student drowning in debt, takes the job. When she arrives, she learns Madeline wants her help with her unusual bucket list. An unconventional relationship develops.

The book has an interesting format. Perspective alternates between Madeline and Bri, but also included are tables, equations, information graphics, and annual reports, all elements appropriate to Madeline’s background.

The unusual relationship between the women ends up changing them both. Both learn about themselves and what is most important to them.

I loved Madeline. She’s a feisty curmudgeon who will “not go gently into that good night.” She’s intelligent, stubborn, determined, and ambitious. Forced to confront her mortality, she learns her flaws and regrets. She comes to acknowledge the complexity of human beings, both her own and that of Hetty Green, her heroine. The two had both accomplishments and failures. I came to respect Madeline more and more as I learned the obstacles she faced: in the male-dominated financial investment world, misogyny was rampant in the 80s and 90s.

Though there is sadness, the overwhelming message is positive and life-affirming: personal growth and meaningful connection are possible at any stage of one’s life.

I recommend this novel because I think it has something for everyone.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Review of SOLACE IN WINTER by Mary Lawson (New Release)

4.5 Stars 

Having read and loved all four of Lawson’s previous novels, I was excited to read her latest.

The novel is set in 1969 in northeastern Ontario, the setting of all of Lawson’s books. Jack Gallagher comes across the aftermath of two accidents in the course of a few days. First he finds a dog which was hit by a vehicle and then he rescues Chris Hansen, an American draft dodger very seriously injured in a car accident. Jack, a widower who loves his solitude, has his life upended when his cabin is filled with a recovering dog and human and various others who come regularly to help. Unfortunately, visits by Jack’s daughter Sally complicate rather than help.

Besides Jack and Chris, there are a number of characters whom the reader gets to know. There’s Tomas, the town vet who often serves as a doctor; Kurt, the lone policeman in Solace; Ellie, Kurt’s wife and the nurse who helps care for Chris; and Sally, Jack’s daughter. Backstories, complete with hopes and disappointments, are provided for all. Chapters alternate among characters. Since the omniscient point of view is used, the reader becomes privy to their thoughts and feelings.

This is a novel about ordinary people living ordinary lives who are brought together by extraordinary circumstances and build unexpected connections. They are strangers who become “not strangers, brought together by pure chance and finding common ground.” These connections end up changing lives. Jack, for instance, realizes “he craved peace and solitude less fervently than he had.”

Family dynamics are explored. Chris’ relationships with his father and mother are described. And then there’s the difficult relationship between Jack and Sally. What I appreciate is that even characters whom the reader will probably not like are not caricatures. Sally, for instance, is angry, bitter, and jealous, but Jack acknowledges that he and his wife Hannah had not been good parents and had not shown or expressed their love for their daughter as they should have. Hannah, a renowned textile artist, had been so focused on her work that she had time for little else. As a result, though I hated Sally’s behaviour, I did have some sympathy for her.

The author uses an understated style. Much is said in few words. For example, when Chris is visited by Patrick, Jack notices that his smile “was not a smile but a mask for grief” but that Chris is blind to his friend’s pain and the reason for it. Remembering this observation, though nothing is ever said, one cannot but wonder about Patrick’s fateful decision later in the book.

The novel has a very strong sense of place. Having lived in northeastern Ontario for many years, I can attest to the accuracy of the landscape descriptions. The descriptions of snow, both its beauty and the hardships it causes, bring back memories. The cabin, a haven from the cold, feels welcoming and serves as a place of healing.

There are wonderful touches of humour. Jack’s initial interactions with Lola, the dog, are moments of levity. His demonstrating to Lola how to urinate on newspaper has him concluding that “she probably thinks I’m some sort of pervert.” And Jack’s exchanges with the slippers-wearing waitress at the local café are wonderful.

Lawson’s books rank among my all-time favourites. I highly recommend this one as I have recommended all of the others.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Review of SWEET PEA by Kit de Waal (New Release)

 3.5 Stars

This novel, under its UK title, The Best of Everything, appeared on the longlist for the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction.

The novel is set in Birmingham, England, over a span of 20 years beginning in 1972. Paulette, an immigrant from St. Kitts, is 29 when the novel opens. She works as an auxiliary nurse. She has a man in her life, Denton Fitzpatrick, whom she hopes to marry and with whom she hopes to have a family. When Denton dies in an accident, her dreams come to an end. Garfield, Denton’s best friend, tries to help her through her grief and eventually they become a couple. They have a son named Bird. Then Paulette meets Frank, the man responsible for the accident which took Denton’s life. She learns that he is struggling to care for his grandson Nellie. Slowly she brings Nellie into her family and has two boys to care for. Of course Paulette’s life is not without difficulties and sometimes her life spirals out of control.

This is very much a novel of characters and Paulette is the central figure. She is a complex character which makes her very realistic. She is kind and compassionate as evidenced in her actions towards Frank and Nellie. She loves her son more than anything, giving him the best of everything she can afford. The problem is that she needs his presence to give her life purpose and meaning. When Bird is away spending time with his father, she thinks only of his return. This of course becomes more of a problem as Bird grows up. She takes solace in drinking.

What also stands out is her poor choices when it comes to men. When Denton dies, she learns that he had a life about which she knew nothing. It’s obvious that he didn’t love her as she loved him, yet she spends years pining for him. Years later, she still believes, “If Denton hadn’t have been snatched from the earth, her life would have run along different tracks, smooth and straight.” Knowing Denton’s secrets, it’s obvious Paulette is deluding herself. After Denton she has a string of affairs with married men; one poor choice follows another. She’s obviously lonely, but she seems a poor judge of character when it comes to men.

She has a blind spot when it comes to Bird as well. Her friend Maggie tells her that “’Bird’s had the wool pulled over your eyes since he was a baby. You think the sun shines out of his arse but he’s as selfish as they come and loves himself into the bargain.’” Paulette’s friendship with Maggie suffers because Paulette is too stubborn to admit that there is some truth in Maggie’s comments. She also, like most humans, does not see herself very clearly. She is angry at Frank because he tells the story of the accident “with himself right plum in the centre” as if he were the victim. She never acknowledges that she does the same, not fully considering that there are many victims.

Paulette does experience growth. The kindness she gave is not forgotten and she is helped to find her way. She learns that she does not need others to give her life purpose; she can find a purpose for herself. In the end one can only cheer for this deeply human character.

The novel touches on a number of serious topics: grief, motherhood, the immigrant experience, and raising a black son in a predominately white society with systemic racism. Nonetheless, most readers will find the ending satisfying.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Review of NO SONG FOR THE DEAD by Jussi Adler-Olsen, Stine Bolther, and Line Holm

 3.5 Stars

This is the 11^th Department Q novel but with a difference: Jussi Adler-Olsen has co-written it with two journalists.

Since Carl Mørck has retired to write books and is no longer head of Department Q, a new transfer is added to the team of Assad and Rose. Helene Henry doesn’t really want to be there and has secrets about her past she doesn’t share with her colleagues. Carl brings them an audio recording that has the team re-opening a case that four years earlier had been deemed a suicide after an attempted murder.

Other crimes are also investigated, all connected to a prestigious school and its boy choir and events there thirty years earlier. As expected, all the crimes end up being connected. The point of view of the perpetrator is given throughout so the reader knows the motives for the various crimes. In fact, the prologue makes much obvious from the beginning, especially that a childhood trauma has had long-lasting consequences. Will the team be able to identify the perpetrator and stop him?

This didn’t really feel like the old Department Q novels which I enjoyed. Carl is largely absent and I missed the relationship between Carl and Assad. In addition, I didn’t care for Helene. She has too many secrets; in fact, it’s difficult to understand how she is allowed to continue working in a police department. Obviously there will be a sequel to fill in her mysterious past.

What I actually enjoyed the most is that I was travelling through Denmark as I read this book, and I visited many of the places used as settings in the novel.

Review of OUR NOBLE SELVES by Kate Atkinson

 4 Stars

This novel is set during the build up to the 1951 Festival of Britain, a national exhibition intended to boost post-war morale and celebrate British achievements in science, arts, and design. Harry Flynn, the protagonist, is a former war reporter and survivor of a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp where he was forced to work on the Burma Railway. Struggling with adapting to normal life, he ends up working with a group of people in the planning department. Then Harry finds himself a prime suspect when a French woman disappears after being on a date with him.

It becomes clear quite quickly that many of the people Harry works with and encounters are members of MI5, the United Kingdom's domestic counter-intelligence and security agency, and MI6, Britain’s Secret Service which collects foreign intelligence and conducts covert operations. No one is what s/he seems; everyone has secrets.

The novel begins slowly; it seems aimless at the beginning. Then, with the introduction of the mystery, the plot becomes quite convoluted. Everyone is connected somehow and it is sometimes difficult to remember who is who and how they know each other. The mystery also relies on a lot of coincidences.

Harry suffers from PTSD. He tries to get on with his life “by treating the past as if it barely existed,” but memories are often triggered by everyday occurrences. There’s a time when “he simply couldn’t be bothered with the tiresome business of being alive.” He describes himself in heart-breaking ways: “He wasn’t whole, he would never be whole” and he feels himself “a figure of straw, insubstantial and unenduring.”

It is comforting that Harry does find a new purpose via thirteen-year-old Veronica. The story is really about the power of love and connection, both of which he finds unexpectedly but help heal him. He can perhaps leave behind the “ball and chain of history” and focus on “Pastures new, rather than the old memory lane.”

Despite references to the horrors of war, there are humourous moments, often involving the Boy whose lack of education leads to, for example, his thinking a man named Denholm was once a king named Lear, not realizing Denholm was an actor. There is also banter among the members of the department.

I always look forward to a Kate Atkinson novel and this one, like her others, does not disappoint.

Review of WOLF SEASON by Wesley King (New Release)

3.5 Stars 

This novel blends genres: suspense thriller, detective procedural, romance, and horror.

After a 7-year absence, Everett Johnson returns to his hometown of Killdeer, Montana, when he hears that his father, the local sheriff, has disappeared. Everett joins his brother Connor, the interim sheriff, in the search for their father who was, at the time of his disappearance, investigating the murder of 17-year-old Orsie Armel. Everett reconnects with Bernadine, Orsie’s cousin and the only woman he has ever loved. The remaining six Armels, owners of a large acreage, are a group of reclusive, rather feral women. Since the deaths of three Armel men, the women have not allowed men on their property.

Everett discovers a pattern of mysterious disappearances and deaths, some of which seem connected to hints of supernatural phenomena. As is repeated several times, there is a cost for everything, and it’s soon clear that there will be a cost to uncovering the truth, in this case the tearing apart of both Everett’s family and that of Bernadine.

I found Everett a difficult character to like. Some of his choices and promises, like handing over Orsie’s killer to the Armels, are not commendable. His love for Bernadine has shaped virtually his entire life and continues to do so. This love and loyalty should be admirable, but they do not always allow for a clarity of vision. And for a person who loves someone so much, he knows very little about his beloved and is okay with that?

I am not a fan of supernatural fiction so the inclusion of a supernatural element was not to my liking; I’m obviously not the intended reader. First of all, there’s a reliance on tropes like the malevolent old woman and metamorphosis.  And the novel reminded me of the short story “The Monkey’s Paw” by W. W. Jacobs in which wishes are granted but with an enormous price.

A suspenseful atmosphere is created from the beginning through the use of death imagery, descriptions of the menacing wilderness, references to a generational blood feud, and the appearance of mysterious figures like the Hill Man and an ancient woman.

The book is well-written; though it’s the author’s first adult novel, he is an award-winning writer of young adult fiction. Unfortunately, it’s not my type of book though, undoubtedly, others will enjoy it.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Review of HIDEAWAY by Nicole Lundrigan

 3.5 Stars

Readers should be forewarned that this is a disturbing read about child neglect and abuse by a parent.

Gloria Janes is unhappy: her husband Telly has left and is now living with another woman. Gloria blames her son, 13-year-old Rowan, for Telly’s leaving so one stormy night she locks him out of the house. He runs to find Carl, a homeless man he encountered previously. Because Carl showed care and concern for him, Rowan thinks Carl is harmless, but he suffers from paranoia and his sometimes erratic behaviour can put him and others in danger. Gloria tells herself and her 7-year-old daughter Maisy that Rowan will be found and that Telly will return so they will be a happy family again. But then there are reports that Rowan drowned in an altercation with a man in a boat.

The novel is narrated from the children’s viewpoints. Rowan’s sections focus on his adventures with Carl whereas Maisy’s chapters describe life at home without her brother and the search to find him.  Because of their ages, both narrators are not totally reliable; they don’t always understand what they are seeing and hearing. Maisy, in particular, is naive.

The villain of the novel is definitely Gloria. She’s a narcissist who manipulates others to get what she wants. After Telly moves out, she starts stalking him and his new girlfriend. Obsessed with getting him back, she’s always scheming to lure him. She even uses Rowan’s disappearance to try and guilt Telly into returning. It’s obvious she doesn’t really care about Rowan’s being missing because she always makes herself the centre of attention. She gaslights Maisy, often telling her she only imagined what she saw or heard. She uses both love bombing and fear of punishment to gain control and create dependency.

Telly is not as repulsive as Gloria, but he is certainly ineffectual. He too is self-absorbed and so not available when needed. He basically runs away and makes little time for his children; at a crucial time, he pushes Rowan away. It’s understandable that Rowan and Maisy are unaware of Gloria’s duplicity and manipulation, but it’s difficult to comprehend how he wouldn’t be wise to her devious plotting and be concerned about its effect on his children. I suspect that their estrangement might be the result of Gloria’s controlling actions. It is perhaps possible to have some sympathy for him at the end but his virtual abandonment of his children tempers that sympathy.

The characterization of Maisy is interesting. Some of her behaviour seems very authentic. For example, her confusion is understandable: Gloria has told her repeatedly that she has an overactive imagination, so her gaslighting is very effective. And Gloria’s tales of wolves, also repeated frequently, explain Maisy’s bewilderment when events take a dark turn. It’s typical for a child like Maisy to be torn between wanting to please a parent and to keep a sibling’s secret. There are times, however, when Maisy seems older than her age because she makes astute observations, and other times when she seems younger as suggested by her total obliviousness.

The book is not an easy read. Seeing the neglect and abuse to which the two children are subjected makes the reader hope that an adult like Mrs. Spooner will rescue them. The pace is slow and that just prolongs the discomfort the reader will feel. One could hope that people like Gloria do not exist in the world, but that unfortunately is not true.

Review of PASSENGERS by Alexander Maksik (New Release)

 3 Stars

Though the themes are different, this novel reminded me of Samuel Beckett’s play Waiting for Godot. Because nothing major happens, the characters must find ways to distract themselves through conversation. And even when the characters talk about leaving or taking action, they move very little. Just as Godot never arrives, their flight never takes off.

Ivan, 75, meets his daughter Nina, 29, in the Los Angeles airport. They are travelling to Paris where Ivan lived for a few years as a young man. He wants to show Nina where he lived and to share his early life with her; perhaps the trip will bring them closer together. Their flight is delayed and then delayed again and again. Soon all flights are delayed. Security tightens and no one is allowed to leave the airport terminal. Obviously something is terribly wrong but no one has any information.

The father and daughter spend their time talking. They discuss many issues. They express their grievances and regrets and talk about their relationship. Nora, Ivan’s wife and Nina’s mother who left her husband and child 12 years ago to follow her dreams, is often mentioned. Ivan frequently talks about his memories of Nina as a child. Because the third-person omniscient point of view is used, the reader also learns Ivan and Nina’s thoughts. Ivan, for instance, worries about whether he was a good father: did she inherit his lack of ambition? And Nina has so many conflicting emotions when it comes to both her parents.

The novel is obviously very character-focused. Ivan is nostalgic, often focused on the past. His love for his daughter is all-encompassing, the depth of which he cannot find words to express, matched only by his love of nature. He describes himself as “a sucker for the sweet syrup of nostalgia, a weakness for sentimental reverie, a man more moved by his daughter and the past and the balm of night air than anything else.” He is cautious and unambitious, “more afraid of losing what they had than determined to have more.” Of course it’s interesting to see how they view each other. Nina thinks she understands why Nora left him: “His self-pity, his hunger for attention, his constant reconfiguring of the past, the conviction that he was always being slighted and misunderstood.”

Nina irritated me. She tends to be self-centred, negative and judgmental. She is upset that Ivan “could never just listen to her. When would he come to understand that there was no more advice left to give?” But then “she was furious that her father had run out of useful lessons.” She often behaves like someone much younger. She does admit, “She could not go on behaving like she was fifteen. It was embarrassing. All this petulance.” I could not agree more. She thinks it’s a daughter’s privilege “to be angry without regret, without concern, without responsibility to fairness.” She’s upset with her life “and all its myriad disappointments and dissatisfactions,” but expresses her unhappiness through anger at what she perceives as her father’s faults, including his need to provide constant advice.

Nora, the absent wife and mother, never appears in the novel, but we learn a lot about her too. Clearly she is single-minded, focused on following her own desires and ambitions. In a flashback, Nina remembers her mother telling her, “’There are things I want to do. Just as there are things you want to do. And we should do them because if we stay where we are out of fear, or expectation, or loyalty, well, then we will never do anything at all, and we’ll hate ourselves forever.’” And what Nora wants to do she is convinced she can do only if living alone. Nora and Ivan are clear foils: he returned from Paris and fell into his father’s business reluctantly, out of cowardice, because “Every step [was] in direct opposition to desire.”

There is some suspense. From the beginning, there’s a suggestion that something is wrong. Ivan comments on the peculiar yellow sky. Then there is reference to earthquakes. Later a trio of fighter jets streak across the sky. People in the airport start behaving strangely. And there are guards preventing anyone from leaving. What is responsible: “the president and his goons” or climate change or the arrival of aliens? But readers should not expect an explanation.

I found reading this book to be a slog. I got tired of the endless introspection and inertia. Perhaps the fact that I will soon be travelling and spending time in five airports made this book too unsettling for me at this time. I do not want to be stalled, either physically or psychologically, as Ivan and Nina are.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Review of MR. WINTERBOURNE by Clara van Houten (New Release)

 4 Stars

This short psychological drama proved to be a real gem.

The novel, set primarily in London, spans 25 years, from 1997 to 2022. Debra Cowdry is an aspiring novelist whose manuscripts are repeatedly rejected so she finally submits one using a male pen name, Alec Winterbourne. The novel is accepted almost immediately and her literary career is launched. By chance she meets a man with the name she invented for her pseudonym and the two start a relationship. As her success builds, there is increasing pressure for public appearances by the author. Maybe Alec could step in and pretend to be the author? What could go wrong?

Having known about George Eliot, George Sand, and Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell, male pseudonyms adopted by female writers, I was interested in how this author would approach the issue of women using male names so their work would be judged fairly and be published. Given the short length of this book, I was expecting a light read but was pleasantly surprised to find an in-depth exploration of identity.

Debra constructs an identity and initially she has a literary agent to protect her and help her continue the facade. As more or her novels are published and she receives more recognition, her identity takes on a life of its own. She even overhears women on a bus speculating about why the author is a recluse. Then she wins literary awards and has to watch someone else receiving the acclaim for her talent. She realizes her life is “owned by people who had not lived a single day of it, while she herself receded further and further into somebody else’s account.” When she decides she wants to get her life back, she realizes how difficult, if not impossible, it will be to reclaim her real identity: “I had signed myself out of my own story so thoroughly that proving I still belonged in it might turn out to be the hardest thing I had ever had to write.”

The novel is written in a brisk, understated style. There are no unnecessary details; those details included convey so much. Suspense is built gradually. It becomes clear that the deception is slowly spinning out of Debra’s control and that someone else has power over her life. Then there are the many instances of foreshadowing, things that indicate all will not end well. For example, she observes that “Alec didn’t look at me. That was, afterwards, the detail I kept returning to” and that she has a fear “I couldn’t yet justify.” I predicted some of what happens, but there are unexpected twists that take the plot in an entirely different direction.

I read this book in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it. The ending is not what I expected, but it is very satisfying. Like Mr. Winterbourne, I gather that the author’s previous novel released earlier this year, Everything He Never Told Me, is, as described on her website, about “the private battles and public sacrifices of women fighting to define their own lives.” I’m recommending Mr. Winterbourne and adding Everything He Never Told Me to my to-be-read stack.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Review of FAIR ONES by Lydia Millet (New Release)

 3.5 Stars

This novel follows the lives of two friends, Mara and Jen, after the sudden, violent death of a third friend, Claire.  Now in their forties, the three were friends since college.

The first half, narrated by Mara, spans the year immediately after Claire’s death. The focus is on understanding her death and trying to uncover if Jase, Claire’s former boyfriend, may have somehow been connected to the tragedy. The second half, narrated by Jen, is a year later. Grief over Claire’s death is no longer the focus. Instead, we see Mara’s new relationship, Jen’s new job, and Jen’s wrestling with her erratic behaviour immediately after Claire’s death. Both Mara and Jen also have to deal with family issues which require them to support their mothers.

This is very much a dialogue-driven novel so it reads fairly quickly. The conversations are very realistic as topics both serious and frivolous are discussed. There are both heart-to-heart conversations and easy banter. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t find it a compelling read. It didn’t keep my interest so I kept putting it down and then I wasn’t excited to pick it up again.

In many ways the novel feels directionless. Obviously, one of its main themes is grief. The two women have to come to terms with the loss of a dear friend who is taken away suddenly and violently. They struggle with moving on with their lives when someone who was such an integral part of their lives is no longer there. Of course grief feels directionless since it’s such a disorienting state.

The book can also be described as a portrait of mid-life friendships. Mara and Jen remain close and support each other so both can survive a devastating loss. Gradually new relationships are formed with other people, some of whom had connections with Claire (Pavan, Caleb) and others who never knew her (Eli, Josh, Julia St. Alban). These new relationships also become a support system.

Though Mara and Jen do not want children, mothers and their relationships with children are also highlighted. We see June, Claire’s mother, dealing with the death of her only daughter. There’s Emmie whose life is shaped by caring for her neuro-divergent son who requires a lot of care. There’s Josh’s mother Sarah who disappeared. Just as Mara and Jen’s friendship withstands tragedy, their ties to their families, though sometimes not strong, remain unbroken. Fern, Mara’s mother, has early signs of dementia and needs her daughter’s help. Lynn, Jen’s mother, comes to rely on her daughter too but for different reasons.

The message that I will remember is a teenager’s comments about life: “’Life is a gift from death . . . Or, like, a loan. Nature is like, Yeah, you’re gonna die. But first, you get to have this! This totally awesome thing. You might not even know how awesome it is, at first. But open your eyes. Look what you get! The universe!’” But we need to stay engaged; if we don’t live in reality, we don’t really live: “’If you stay sleeping, all you’ll ever have is a dream. Maybe you’ll get to keep the dream. For a bit. But meanwhile you’re losing the best parts of reality. Just letting them fade away.’”

This book did not resonate with me, but I’m certain it will for other readers.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Review of EVERY STORY IS A LOVE STORY by Imbolo Mbue (New Release)

 4 Stars

This is an emotionally complex novel which examines the messy truth of feelings and relationships.

When the novel begins, Wolo Lifafa has been a widower for three years. His wife Yoma, pregnant with twins at the time, was struck by a car while she was out jogging. Victoria Snow, the woman driving that car, contacts Wolo and asks to meet him. Despite his family’s advice, he agrees to do so because he wants details of the accident which he is convinced were covered up. The first meeting does not go well, but reluctantly Wolo agrees to further contact. He comes to wonder whether he and Victoria are destined “to walk together out of their shared darkness.”

Chapters alternate between the present, where Wolo struggles with grief and wonders whether he can forgive Victoria for her role in the deaths of his wife and unborn children, and the past which gives the backstory of Wolo and Yoma’s relationship and the complexities of his extended family in Cameroon and the US.

The book examines love in its various forms. Wolo thinks of Yoma as the love of his life and doesn’t believe that he can ever love anyone in the same way again. But it’s not just romantic or marital love that is explored. There’s parental love and filial love and familial love as well. There’s love between two men, but that love can never be spoken of. A message that resonated with me is spoken by Yolo’s second mother: “’a person can love you while struggling to deal with the pain you’ve caused them.’”

Grief is another topic. Wolo acknowledges that people mourn differently, though, as his father-in-law tells him, “’some people want your grief to look the way they think it should look, the way they would do it if they were you.’” Wolo’s “journey through grief has been a constant battle to accept, an inability to find a way forward, ignorant of how to move out of this terrible darkness.”

And forgiveness is the third concept explored. Initially Wolo has no intention of forgiving Victoria but later hopes to find a way to forgiveness. He sees examples of others forgiving; Yoma’s father and Nathaniel Lambi are two such people. Wolo realizes that he and his family caused pain and sought forgiveness at one time; his Facebook message to Mary indicates he is still seeking forgiveness. Wolo’s friend Ben tells him that forgiveness is not easy: “’It’s a very hard thing to do. It requires the kind of strength most of us don’t have, that’s why we don’t even try it.’”

I had heard about the stages of grief but never about the five stages of forgiveness. It’s the first stage, “accepting that all who commit wrongs are humans first, offenders second,” that is emphasized in the novel. It’s because Wolo realizes that he too has been an offender wanting forgiveness that he is able to consider forgiving someone else. And Victoria has difficulty forgiving herself so she’s stuck at the second stage: “recognizing that all humans are worthy of forgiveness.”

There are so many characters I learned to like. Yoma’s father, Tata Munyuenge, stands out because of his wisdom. Even Yoma is fully developed; through the flashbacks, we learn about her intelligence, fierceness, ambition, and independent nature. Keka, Wolo’s mother, is problematic for me. Above all, she holds on to her anger against Victoria. At times she strikes me as hypocritical since she seems to have no difficulty forgiving Osi’s behaviour. And it’s interesting that she accuses Victoria of manipulating Wolo while forgetting her own manipulations of her husband to get what she wanted. Her last email to Wolo redeems her somewhat, but it’s interesting that she doesn’t mention Victoria in the last sentence. Of course there is no doubt she loves her son, and there are many different ways to love.

I loved how the novel exposes readers to a culture with which they might not be familiar. I knew nothing about Cameroonian culture so thoroughly enjoyed the glimpses given. The importance of family and family reputation is certainly emphasized.

This novel inspires self-reflection: were you in Wolo’s situation, how would you behave? Would you be like Wolo or like Keka? Personally, I will try to remember that we are all flawed and deserving of love and forgiveness.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Review of QUANT by Anthony Bidulka (New Release)

 4.5 Stars

I finally met Russell Quant, the “wine-swilling, wise-cracking, world-travelling, winsomely gay, half Irish, half Ukrainian, ex-cop, ex-farm boy, Canadian prairie PI,” and I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with him.

In Howell, Saskatchewan, Russell’s hometown, Clem Toth, the community’s go-to handyman, has died. Police believe his death was a suicide motivated by Clem’s guilt at deliberately destroying all the plants of a local nursery business. CeeCee, Clem’s widow and manager of Toth Greenhouse, doesn’t believe he committed the vandalism and is convinced he was actually murdered. Because CeeCee is a family friend, Russell decides to investigate. He interviews a number of people and even travels to the Turks and Caicos Islands to determine if a multi-national company interested in real estate development near Howell could be connected to the unusual events in the tiny hamlet with a population of less than 100.

Besides the mystery which highlights Russell’s professional life, there is some focus on his personal life. Russell’s mother Kay is showing signs of dementia and it is no longer safe for her to live in the farmhouse that has been her home for decades. And besides facing the harsh reality of his mother’s mental decline, he, in his mid-fifties, seems to be having a mid-life crisis. He must come to terms with aging, a process he sees as “agonizingly awash with loss and endings.” Fortunately, he has his husband, JP Taine, to support him.

It is impossible not to like Russell. Many people believe that how a man treats his mother indicates his emotional maturity. There is no doubt of the love he has for Kay. He speaks to and about her with kindness, respect, and empathy. There are some scenes that took my breath away. Kay’s addressing Russell by his father’s name is heart-breaking, and the mother and son eating cinnamon rolls together is such a touching scene. Russell’s love for JP is also obvious; he often mentions his husband’s positive qualities and acknowledges that he would be a lesser man without JP in his life.

Other of Russell’s traits also stand out. He is capable of self-reflection, often examining his thoughts, emotions, and choices. He admits, for instance, that he sometimes jumps to conclusions about people. He’s confident but not arrogant. His lack of arrogance is obvious in his self-deprecating comments. His wit also accentuates his intelligence.

I identified with so much in the novel. I love books which are unapologetically Canadian and celebrate our culture, even our quirks, and this book does that. The first chapter in which Russell describes his upbringing left me feeling very nostalgic since my background is very similar. The author captures the rhythms of small-town life so well. And the pop culture references resonated too.

The only aspect of the novel that I found problematic is Russell’s trip to Providenciales. He describes himself as a first timer to the island, but he knows so much about it. He knows its history and geography and is even familiar with its roads, beaches, restaurants, and resorts. I could assume that he did some research beforehand – or afterwards, since he does narrate in the past tense – but I think it’s more a case of the author’s familiarity with the Turks and Caicos archipelago bleeding into the narrative. I just wish I could get an invitation to a month-long stay at Phillip Painchaud’s rental villa!

I can attest that this is a standalone novel: I’ve not read the other eight Russell Quant novels, and though there are references to past events and relationships, none muddy the waters for a first-time reader of the series. (I did appreciate the allusions to other of the author’s books that I have read; the connection to the author’s trilogy made me want to cheer. I bet Lila and Doreen would get along well.) 

I so enjoyed my time with Russell that I want to read the other books in the series. (Quant takes place 15 years after the last book in the series.) I’d like to get to know some of the other characters mentioned; Kay, in particular, interests me, perhaps because she reminds me of my mother with her accent and her cooking “to excess” for fear someone might leave her home hungry. It’s time to see if my local bookstore has the newly re-issued 8-book original series. And I’m certain that others who meet Russell for the first time in this book will have the same reaction.

Review of THE DYING LIGHT by Ann Cleeves (New Release)

 4 Stars

This well-crafted police procedural is the fourth in the Two Rivers series featuring Detective Inspector Matthew Venn.

Venn and his team are called upon to investigate the death of 17-year-old Lottie Cauldwell whose body is discovered in the swimming pool of the holiday home belonging to the family of her friend Hannah Armstrong. Shortly thereafter Hannah’s body is also discovered. Both the locals in the small community as well as vacationers are interviewed. It is not long before connections emerge between several people and the Armstrong family. Secrets and secret hostilities are uncovered. Even the victims had secrets. Was the motive for the murders personal or, since Paul Armstrong, Hannah’s father, is a well-known ambitious politician, was the motivation political?

I enjoyed another visit with Venn and his team. Though Matthew still has insecurities in his personal relationship, he is becoming more confident as an investigator. He’s intelligent, thoughtful, empathetic, and calm. He’s a steady team leader willing to admit mistakes and to give credit to others. Jen Rafferty and Ross May are becoming more skilled as detectives. In particular, May’s maturity is highlighted: in the past he was eager, over-confident, and impatient whereas now he’s learning patience and realizing that he isn’t always right.

There is a claustrophobic atmosphere. The region is experiencing a scorching heatwave. Then it’s obvious that people are keeping secrets. Added to this are tensions between the local villagers and in-comers, wealthy Londoners like the Armstrongs buying up properties for holiday homes. Because of Paul’s high profile, there’s media attention and pressure to solve the case expeditiously.

There is a sufficiently large cast of suspects with potential motives to keep the reader guessing. As one would expect, there is misdirection. At the end, even Venn admits to making mistakes in his theorizing. The author plays fair; though there is misdirection, the clues are also there. The resolution is very plausible and may leave the reader wondering why s/he didn’t see it from the beginning.

I find this series is getting better and better, and I look forward to returning to Devon to follow Venn and his team during their next investigation.

Here are links to my reviews of the previous three installments in the series:

The Long Call: https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/2019/09/review-of-long-call-by-ann-cleeves-new.html

The Heron’s Cry: https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/2021/09/review-of-herons-cry-by-ann-cleeves-new.html

The Raging Storm: https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/2024/01/review-of-raging-storm-by-ann-cleeves.html

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Review of DOG DAYS OF PLANET EARTH by Theresa Shea (New Release)

3.5 Stars 

This book explores a number of environmental, social, and political issues.

In 1985, Trevor Westmore, a former veterinarian, is released from Leavenworth Penitentiary after serving a 25-year sentence for murder. A guard gifts him a German Shepherd puppy named Libby. The two drive from Kansas to California where Trevor’s parents live. He buys a house and opens up a dog kennel. He meets Laura Fenway, the local veterinarian, and is immediately attracted to her. But will she want to have anything to do with him once she learns about his past? Then Trevor learns that Laura also has secrets which could jeopardize his long-awaited freedom.

Trevor is a likeable character. When the details of his crime are revealed, it’s obvious that his harm was unintentional, though he was certainly selfish and naive. Even before his prison time, he had a difficult life because of his military experiences. He struggles with adapting to a new world after having been incarcerated for almost half his life. I could not help but become a cheerleader for Trevor as he takes positive steps forward. Because I was invested in his future, I found the ending unsatisfying because of its lack of closure.

The novel certainly shows the bond between humans and dogs. Because Libby is dependent on him for her needs, Trevor is forced to act responsibly. Providing her with a routine gives him a routine as well. For example, he knows that a puppy needs to be exposed to new situations so, even though he doesn’t want to, he takes her for a walk. If he feels depressed or full of self-pity, Libby’s unconditional love and trust draws him out of his emotional slump. She definitely eases his re-entry into society by connecting him with other people.

A number of issues are examined: nuclear testing and its long-term effects on human health, chemical spraying in agriculture and its effects on animal health, the military’s abandonment of servicemen harmed during their service, the penal system, animal testing and abuse, and the difference between law and justice. I think that too many issues are touched on because some of them overshadow the plot and slow down pace. Certainly the discussion of crop spraying and its effects on mammalian mortality rates goes on and on. A focus on one or two subjects would be preferable.

I enjoyed the first part of the novel: Trevor’s time in prison, military service, and the events leading up to his murder charge. The romance element interested me less, especially once the animal rescue missions are introduced. With regard to the latter, readers need to be forewarned that animal abuse is described in detail, detail which will be upsetting to everyone but especially animal lovers.

The book will leave readers unimpressed by human nature because it depicts many examples of stupidity, self-centredness, selfishness, short-sightedness, moral bankruptcy, and cruelty. I wish for a more positive ending than the arrival of dawn.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Review of BAD INFLUENCE by Will Carver

 4 Stars

This is a psychological thriller with lots of social commentary.

Alyssa and Less (Alessandro) are college students living in Los Angeles. Less describes them as “both mixed-up. We’re both kind of directionless. We’re both what-the-hell-are-we-going-to-do-with-our-lives kids.” Loners, their friendship is what defines them: “Our friendship is one of the only truly real things that either of us has. It’s genuine and it’s deep. And, in our eyes, at least, unbreakable.”

The two become involved in phrogging, living secretly inside strangers’ homes. The duo choose the luxurious homes of influencers and pop stars. They enjoy the thrill until things go awry when they target the home of Paige, a fitness influencer, who discovers them. And because Paige has allowed reality tv producers to install cameras in her house, everything that transpires thereafter is filmed.

Alyssa and Less are interesting, well-developed characters. In many ways they are irresponsible and I could not condone some of their choices like party-crashing and phrogging. Their justifications indicate a self-centredness: “It’s fun. Nobody gets hurt. Nobody that matters” and “We don’t have to steal anything. Nobody will get hurt. It’ll just be a bit of fun. It’s wholesome, really.” Like most young people, they don’t consider the possible unintended consequences of their actions: “they hadn’t really thought about it enough. They only cared about what they wanted, how they were feeling, right there and then.” But we also get to see their positive qualities. Alyssa appreciates what her mother does for her and shows love in how she cares for her grandmother. Less understands his mother’s sadness and so forgives some of her actions: “We’re both struggling but she’s been at it a lot longer than I have and she can’t see a way out.”

The book is a satirical look at social media culture. It examines the lives of influencers, hungry for attention and fame, who curate their lives for their followers. One wannabe influencer takes several photos to get the right one: “Capturing a real, spontaneous moment has never taken so much planning.” Paige, another influencer, realizes that she has lost herself, her identity, to her performance: “Paige wants to be herself again. The way she was before all of this. When she was innocent and naive.” Influencers must perpetuate “the veneer of perfection” and keep posting interesting content or they will lose their followers. She is addicted to validation; there is “something intoxicating about the notification of a new fan.” The irony is that she has no real friends: “A million followers and nobody to be close to. She’s so lost. This job has taken who she was.”

For Alyssa, Less, and Paige, one can feel some sympathy. There are, however, two characters who are so morally bankrupt that it’s impossible to feel anything but the utmost of contempt. Edie and Tammy are producers of reality tv shows, what is called “car-crash television. Shows where they can manipulate a situation. Manufacture a scene and pass it off as reality.” To say they are ruthless is an understatement, focused as they are on “Spinning gold from the darkness of humanity. Profiting from misery.” They are successful because they understand that an audience requires conflict to remain interested so they manipulate their contestants: “they know the best way to manipulate you. They know what incentives to offer to get you to play ball and they know what buttons to press in order to push your emotions in the directions that will ensure you are watched and ratings will increase.”

Even if you’re not interested in becoming an influencer, there’s a warning in the book for anyone using social media: “Plastic has got nothing on the internet. Everything you think and then type is out there for the world to see, forever. Forever.” Information or an opinion shared “is out there forever. Whether it’s right or wrong.” Even deleted postings are not gone.

The style of the book is appropriate to its content. It mimics the style of social media communication, using hashtags, influencer content, tailored ads, numbers of likes and followers, and online commentaries – all that you would see scrolling on your phone or tablet.

I enjoyed the novel. As expected in such a tale about deception and manipulation, there’s a lot of suspense and many twists, though the author does provide subtle clues. If something strikes you as odd, pay attention! But it’s the social commentary that stands out for me; it emphasizes the shallowness of social media culture and how what we see on screens is very different from reality. The book is entertaining, topical, and thought-provoking.

Review of EXIT PARTY by Emily St. John Mandel (New Release)

 4 Stars

This novel explores parallel worlds, specifically two versions of life in the United States following its collapse.

The first part, titled “A-Side” begins in 2031 in Los Angeles. Ari Waker, 48, recently released after an 18-year prison sentence, attends a party with her roommate Gloria. This proves to be an unusual house party: a woman named Nico appears and she seems to be a double of Gloria; the doppelganger of another guest addresses Ari as Ibari, a name on Ari’s ID but one she never uses; and Kareem Fayed, the host, disappears. Later, after following Ari’s somewhat peripatetic existence, the novel moves ahead to the 2060s where we catch up with Ari, and both Gloria and Nico.  

The second part, “B-Side,” takes the reader to the world from which Nico came where she lived with her husband Kareem and their two children, Marlowe and Samir. Ibari Waker, Nico’s best friend, is a detective with Service, the surveillance department of the State. We learn about life in this alternate world, the cause of Nico’s disappearance, and subsequent events.

Ari and Ibari are the two characters whom the reader gets to know best. They are not the same person but they share similar traits. They do not trust others and both show a propensity for stepping beyond boundaries. In different ways, they both long to live in a different kind of world. Both are complicated characters and not always likeable, though they also have redeeming qualities.

Nico is an interesting character. She remains a vague character in “A-Side” but is developed further in “B-Side” when we learn more about her life. Her actions in the first part make more sense once we know more about the life she left behind; her role in Sebastian’s life mirrors the role she obviously misses from her other life. On the other hand, the Kareem at the party and the Kareem married to Nico are foils in many ways. The fact that characters in the two worlds are not just copies or total opposites shows that the author gave careful thought to character development.

At one point Ibari makes an observation: “Strange to think there weren’t just two versions of me, and two versions of Kareem and Nico and possibly everyone else, but two versions of our country. There was a world where my homeland had fractured into disarray, and another where my homeland had closed like a fist.” Inevitably, the reader wonders whether chaos or control is preferable.

In Ari’s world, the US has fractured; there are some city-states but “Most territory was contested. There were militias everywhere, flashes of gunfire at night. The skirmishes were constant but stopped just short of all-out war. The combatant groups were innumerable, militias forming and breaking apart in complex and ever-shifting allegiances. Gun runners passed through the towns like smoke, shadows moving over the landscape. There was constant migration.”

Ibari’s world is a totalitarian state reliant on surveillance. There are identity cards, neighbourhood permits, facial recognition technology, random interrogations, and drone surveillance. The State will do whatever is necessary to maintain peace and harmony. Ibari acknowledges that “One of the more exhausting aspects of life in a surveillance state is that anyone can be surveilling you at any time, including the person whom you are yourself surveilling.” Anyone critical of the State might be sent to prison or to a black site or to a work camp. A person who runs afoul of the State can become a ghost: “not entitled to a home, or health care, or the protections of the law, or a social security number, bank account, credit, or entry into most spaces.”

Neither world is appealing. In different ways, both have people living in fear. What is noteworthy is that, given the current state of affairs in the US, both versions are not far from reality. What I found frightening is that both worlds are possible, and that is probably the author’s point. The one note of hope is Kareem’s comment that “’no country lasts forever.’”

I enjoyed the book, though I did find “A-Side” rather slow-paced compared to “B-Side.” The novel certainly provides a lot for the reader to ponder. I’ve only mentioned one of the many subjects examined; other topics explored are marriage and parenting, and the power of art.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Review of THE LAST TENANT by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir (New Release)

 4 Stars

This is the sixth book in the Forbidden Iceland series and, like the others, a compelling read.

The remains of a young woman and a baby are uncovered at an abandoned farmhouse. Detective Elma Jónsdóttir, her partner Sævar, and her boss Hörður of West Iceland CID investigate to determine the identities of the deceased and how they came to be buried together, though they were clearly buried years apart. The woman is eventually identified as Sólrún Sveinsdóttir. Her disappearance had been believed to be a suicide but evidence now shows she was murdered.

There’s a second plot focused on Karitas Sól, a young single mother who moves to Akranes with her four-year-old son Bessi. She rents a basement apartment from Baldvin, an eccentric older man. He befriends Karitas and her son, but some of his behaviour worries Karitas. She meets Kristófer, a young man who lives next door, and the two become romantically involved. But then she learns that Sólrún, the murdered woman, had connections to both her landlord and her neighbour. Can she trust either of them?

As in the previous novels, Elma’s personal life is also part of the story. This time, Elma and Sævar are experiencing some relationship difficulties. Though they live together with their young daughter Adda, Elma knows that Sævar is keeping secrets from her. She thinks he may be seeing another woman. I enjoy these glimpses at Elma’s personal life, but I appreciate that they don’t overshadow the investigation.

Elma is a very likeable protagonist.  As always, she continues to show her intelligence and determination. Even when she has strong suspicions but no supporting evidence, she doesn’t hesitate to confront a person she suspects is guilty of a crime. She’s not perfect and that makes her authentic. She attends a party and reveals some information about the case and then is “tortured by self-recriminations” and has difficulty forgiving herself for what she perceives as negligence.

As I’ve mentioned in my reviews of previous books in this series, the author is a master of misdirection. I know to expect that in her books not everything is as it seems. Besides those of Elma and Karitas, the perspectives of various people connected to the case are given. These people harbour secrets and/or behave strangely, so there is no shortage of suspects. I identified a suspect and then thought I was proved to be correct, but I was wrong. I’m pleased that the one person I thought from the beginning was innocent is indeed so. But then there was someone I never suspected! It speaks to the writer’s skill that I was fully engaged in trying to solve the case as I read.

Readers looking for a meticulously plotted police procedural with engaging characters and a lot of psychological suspense need look no further.  Though the book can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the books in order. All have received 4 stars from me.

Review of THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans

 4.5 Stars

I kept coming across this title but didn’t pay too much attention until I learned it won the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction. As suggested by the title, it’s an epistolary novel in the vein of 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff, a book I loved which is even recommended to the protagonist.

Sybil Van Antwerp is a septuagenarian who retired from her job as a chief clerk to a judge in 1999. She is an inveterate letter writer; the novel includes letters written between June 2, 2012, and February 8, 2020. She writes to, among others, Felix, her brother; Rosalie, her best friend and sister-in-law; Fiona and Bruce, her adult children; Harry, the teenaged son of a former colleague; Theodore, her neighbour; and authors of books she’s read. Occasionally replies are included. There’s also a series of unsent letters to an unidentified recipient; these serve almost like Sybil’s diary. Sybil states that “the letters amount to who I am,” but advancing vision problems threaten her well-constructed life.

The novel is a character study because the reader gets to know Sybil’s personality. She’s fiercely intelligent and inordinately stubborn. She’s prickly. She’s speaks her mind, though always politely. And she’s capable of great love and generosity; what she did for Felix and does for Harry show these traits in abundance. Some of her epistles had me laughing out loud and others left me heart-broken.

Sybil’s letters are well-written. She admits, “It takes patience to say exactly what one means, to think of the right word. Sometimes I write a draft and mark it up, then write a clean copy to send.” (The last letter, more of an attempt than a draft, reveals so much about Sybil and her struggles.) It is also clear that the letters serve as a way of avoiding personal contact; she herself admits, “by conducting the most intimate relationships of my life in correspondence, I have kept, since I was a child, a distance between myself and others. I think it’s true the letters have insulated me, have been a force field.” Given her experiences, her need for distance is understandable.

Sybil freely offers opinions and advice to others but is not always given to self-reflection or accepting advice. When her best friend writes to her on August 20, 2017, to give her some advice about repairing a relationship, Sybil does not respond until September 18, 2018, over a year later. Her personal growth, though slow, does become obvious as evidenced in her reaching out to people like Fiona, Hattie, and Theodore. She acknowledges her failures and tries to make amends for past mistakes.

The novel is not plotless. Through the letters, we learn about Sybil’s life, including the great tragedy which shaped her life, her legal career, an unexpected family history, and the possibility of late-life romance. The letters also reveal her secrets, regrets, and overwhelming guilt.

I loved the book. Perhaps some of my enjoyment derives from reading about a woman who, like me, is “caught in the wretched web of aging.” Though I tend to rely on digital communication like everyone else these days, I love receiving hand-written cards. And I liked the many literary references: several of the letter writers exchange titles of books they’re currently reading. I highly recommend this novel.

Review of LOVE, AFTER ALL by Ewald Arenz

 4 Stars

I’m not a fan of romance novels, but this poignant love story won me over.

Clara Wagenbach, in her late forties, is a photographer who has just lost her job. Elias Kornfeld, in his thirties, is an actor. The two meet by chance when Elias’s girlfriend Vera arranges for them to view the cottage Clara is selling. The attraction between them is immediate and mutual and love blossoms as they spend time together. Fate, however, intervenes. Clara is offered a job in another part of the country and then Elias falls ill. Elias mentions that “Love was like a soft metal. It had to be honed in everyday life until it was both supple and firm.” Will their love survive?

Both characters are well-developed so feel authentic. Clara is independent, strong-willed and uncompromising; because she has been hurt in the past, she has built a protective wall: “She’d never wanted to open the door to herself to anyone.” Elias is charismatic but seems to use his acting skills in his personal life: he pretends to be happy though he feels he is in the wrong life. He seems afraid to totally commit to a relationship.

The perspectives of both Clara and Elias are presented so the reader gets to know them intimately. We may not agree with their decisions and choices, but we understand them. For example, Clara’s husband died of cancer and so her reluctance to open up is understandable. Considering the state of her marriage when Paul died, she vows, “If I ever love again, it will be completely and forever. No more compromises. Not with myself and not with the other person. And if that can’t be done, then it can’t be done.”

This is a book about mature love, not a young love. There is an age gap which particularly concerns Clara. They are not Romeo and Juliet and so cannot be rash since they both have adult responsibilities: Elias has a daughter, and Clara’s mother has dementia and her father suffers from paranoia. They have careers which are important to them.

Clara and Elias meet in the spring and every chapter includes some description of springtime which mirrors their developing relationship. Just as new buds form and flowers blossom, so does their love. And when there are problems between them, Clara notices “the trees were just plain green. That was how she felt. Yes. Alive. But not blooming.”

At one point, Elias quotes, “’Nothing is more various in its forms than love.’” The novel examines different types of love besides the romantic passion between Clara and Elias. There’s the love between siblings (Clara and Jan), the love of a parent for a child (Elias and Jules), and the love of children for parents (Jan and Clara’s care for their mother).

I do have a couple of quibbles. I had difficulty accepting Jan’s interference in Elias’s treatment. He speaks to him about test results though Elias is not his patient and then proposes a course of treatment without first consulting Elias’s doctors. I understand his motivation, but his actions are so unprofessional. I also didn’t understand why Clara receives the call from the care home at the end since she’s not an appointed guardian.

I’ve read the other novels by Ewald Arenz which have been translated into English: Tasting Sunlight and One Grand Summer. Though Love, After All is not my favourite of his, I do recommend it because it, like the others, shows exceptional emotional depth.

Here are links to my reviews of these other novels.

Tasting Sunlight: https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/2022/06/review-of-tasting-sunlight-by-ewald.html

One Grand Summer: https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/2024/07/review-of-one-grand-summer-by-ewald.html