This story ticks all the right boxes for me!!
What a captivating beginning! From the very first page I found that the narrative evoked a very powerful sense of time and place, with the dialogue reinforcing this. Although it felt deeply uncomfortable to read about such racially prejudiced attitudes, these made the opening chapters of the story immediately feel very authentic. The various characters are very well-portrayed and, having read the early chapters, I feel they have seared themselves in my imagination and I'm eager to get to know them better and to discover not only how their individual stories develop, but how they interact with each other.
I felt an increasing sense of menace as the early chapters began to introduce reflect the scene from the perspectives of different characters so it seems that this is a story which will become increasingly dark as its secrets are gradually revealed. I'm already convinced that once I start it (if I'm fortunate enough to win a copy!) I'll have great difficulty in putting it down!
When I first saw the cover I assumed it reflected a rather lightweight, feel-good story, possibly one I wouldn't want to win in the draw. However, having read the early chapters I then studied the cover in more detail and realised that it is, in fact, very deceptive, with its sunny aspect containing hints of the darkness and mystery contained within.
I felt an increasing sense of menace as the early chapters began to introduce reflect the scene from the perspectives of different characters so it seems that this is a story which will become increasingly dark as its secrets are gradually revealed. I'm already convinced that once I start it (if I'm fortunate enough to win a copy!) I'll have great difficulty in putting it down!
When I first saw the cover I assumed it reflected a rather lightweight, feel-good story, possibly one I wouldn't want to win in the draw. However, having read the early chapters I then studied the cover in more detail and realised that it is, in fact, very deceptive, with its sunny aspect containing hints of the darkness and mystery contained within.