To round off January, I thought I'd share with you a couple of terrific books I've read this month.
Carol Rivers A Sister's Shame
In 1930s London, Marie and Vesta are twins whose lifelong dream is to follow their father into show business. When Vesta falls in love with a charming but shady singer, the twins are given work in a nightclub, but all is not as it seems.
Carol Rivers has constructed a dramatic and involving plot in a detailed and atmospheric setting. There is an undercurrent of menace throughout and my fingers itched to reach inside the pages and give Vesta a good shake as, blinded by love and ambition, she threw herself headlong into the new life everyone warned her against.
The book is peopled with well-rounded characters and, for me, one of its joys is the attention given to the supporting cast to ensure their personalities are as distinct and believable as those of the main players. I especially liked wise, no-nonsense Elsie and gentle, honourable Wippet.
This is also a tale of relationships in various forms – the bond between twins, long-lasting friendship that turns friends in family, and romance, both real and imagined, one leading to lasting love, the other to a relationship based on control.
As well as characterisation of the highest quality, you always get a strong sense of location in a Carol Rivers book; and whatever background she chooses for her plot - be it the Home Front or medicine, shopkeeping or the seedy side of showbusiness - you can be certain she's done her homework. Not that it shows in an obtrusive way - it's slipped into the narrative, a detail here, a piece of dialogue there, so that it slides seamlessly into the story.
You can trust Carol Rivers always to deliver an absorbing, moving drama, full of atmosphere and emotion. She never disappoints.
A Sister's Shame – Kindle edition
A Sister's Shame – paperback edition
A Sister's Shame – Amazon reviews
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Linda Huber The Paradise Trees
This creepy psychological novel is written in two distinct voices. One belongs to Alicia, for whom a change in family circumstances means she must confront the demons of her past. The other is that of the person watching her and her daughter with murder in mind.
This is a convincing and compelling read, containing a strong sense of place and laced with suspense. There are several characters who could be the stalker and I found myself reading Alicia's segments with a sharp eye as I looked for clues.
The chapters are short, which not only adds to the sense of urgency, but also makes it ever so tempting to read just one more chapter... and just one more after that... rather than put the book down.
This is more than a suspense novel, however. It also focuses on the highly topical issues of dementia and how best to care long-term for a vulnerable elderly person, matters which Alicia has to face at the same time as battling with long-suppressed memories from her childhood.
I read The Paradise Trees because I read the superb The Cold Cold Sea last autumn and found it utterly absorbing. What can I say? Linda Huber is the Queen of Creepy.
The Paradise Trees – Kindle edition
The Paradise Trees – paperback edition
The Paradise Trees – Amazon reviews
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Comments (4)
And yes, you're right, I have tweeted about Carol Rivers' books. I have all her books on my shelf, but I'm taking my time about reading them, so I can spin out the pleasure rather than devouring them all in one go.
Not in the right place for 'creepy' at the moment, but am interested that Huber's book also tackles dementia and elder care. The latter are topical for me/my extended family.