The first few chapters cover a lot of ground, setting the context and conveying the backstory as well as embarking on the tale of rescue that you know is going to influence the plot. And yet there are already a number of questions to be answered, a sense that the narrator may be vulnerable in some way, and an undertone of both mystery and danger. I was hooked and am longing to find out what happened, and what happens! The prose is straightforward and easy to read, helping to build some tension and sense of excitement at what is about to unfold. Already there is significant mystery about the character of Jeff, who was only sketchy in the past and the intervening years and his very different presentation now only serve to add to these. Is his a friend or foe: it really isn't clear? Details about the narrator are fed in slowly, so there is mystery too around that character, and it is clear that something significant is about to happen to him. It would be great to accompany him on that journey!
The cover seems spot-on: a mysterious man in glasses (are they real, are they needed, who is this man?) with the clouds hinting at adventure, mystery, possibilities and journey.
The cover seems spot-on: a mysterious man in glasses (are they real, are they needed, who is this man?) with the clouds hinting at adventure, mystery, possibilities and journey.