James Minter's Blog: Writers do it in Public... - Posts Tagged "emotion"

My Father, The Assassin by June Finnigan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


As with any book the first few paragraphs / pages are crucial for hooking the reader. Known as the ‘honeymoon’ period, this is the time readers make up their mind to continue reading or throw in the towel. June handles this excellently – my first introduction to My Father, The Assassin, was via the Amazon Kindle Look Inside feature, she hooked me and I pressed the buy button. I wasn't disappointed. June builds the plot wonderfully. I guess we all think we know the people we are close to – parents, siblings, partners – really well. In this case, Joanna Wild thought she knew her father, but as June develops the story, she couldn't have been further from the truth. In the summer of 1995, at her home in Devon, England, Joanna’s life changed forever with the unexpected arrival of Prince Abdullah, a close friend and associate of her long deceased father.
Although it was nearly 25 years since her father had worked for Prince Abdullah consequences of his action where still being felt. Joanna’s meeting with the Prince reveals many aspects of her father’s life she, or her mother, had little or no knowledge of; the details of which the Prince revealed to her. As they say ‘the plot thickened,’ and June makes a great job of this.
From the start, June uses descriptions, not flat one-dimensional, but appeals to our 5 sense to paint pictures that are vivid in the mind’s eye. Simple but evocative: ‘I awoke in bed to the sound of heavy breathing and the urgent licking of a very wet tongue. The sun was already pouring through the curtains and I was desperate for a wee.’ This is an excellent example of show not tell – the stuff great writing is made of. Drawing your reader in, making them believe they are there. It easy to imagine Joanna has slept late and her dog and bladder are keen to let her know. This is typical of June’s writing prowess, and what makes this book a must read.
This is a pacey book with short chapters allowing you to reflect on the story and where it’s going; and going it is from Devon to the Far East. Not only does June take you across the world but the love interest draws you in to an emotional roller-coaster; a thoroughly good read.



View all my reviews