Sheila Rawlings's Blog, page 6
January 2, 2021
Secrets deeper than the snow
Being an avid fan of Nordic crime dramas, Ragnar Jónasson’s Dark Iceland series was high on my reading list. Having now read the first book, ‘Snowblind’, I can honestly say I was not disappointed.
Having made several unsuccessful applications to join the police force, Ari Thór Arason soon realises becoming a police officer is going to be harder than he anticipated. So, when he is unexpectedly offered a post at a police station in the small, remote village of Siglufjördur, in the north of Iceland, he immediately accepts – much to the annoyance of his girlfriend, Kristín, given that he had not discussed the matter with her beforehand.
Unfortunately, Siglufjördur is not like the busy Reykjavik Ari Thór is used to. Finding it difficult to adjust to life in a small community, where everyone knows each other, he soon begins to feel isolated and far from home. Treated like an outsider, his growing anxiety and claustrophobia is further intensified by the relentless and ever-deepening snow.
Just as he begins to wonder if it was a mistake to accept the job, local celebrity author, Hrólfur Kristjánsson, is found dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs. Although everyone, including his boss, thinks it was an accident, Ari Thór is not so sure and, when another body is found, he takes it upon himself to follow up his suspicions. However, the more he delves into the lives of the seemingly tight-knit inhabitants of the village, the more secrets he discovers … secrets which go even deeper than the snow.
Beautifully written by Ragnar Jónasson, and translated into English from the original Icelandic by Quentin Bates, ‘Snowblind’ is a compelling novel set against a harsh Icelandic winter – a world in which ever-present snow and long hours of darkness are all consuming.
With his dramatic and descriptive text, Jónasson paints a vivid picture of life in this remote village, where growing tensions and longstanding grievances suggest no lack of potential motive for murder. Together with his talent for breathing life into his characters, the result is an intriguing storyline which quickly draws the reader into the tangled lives of its main protagonists.
The only difficulty I had was remembering all the characters’ names, let alone trying to pronounce them. However, the story is so gripping and immersive, this proved to be a minor obstacle. I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Snowblind’ and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Having made several unsuccessful applications to join the police force, Ari Thór Arason soon realises becoming a police officer is going to be harder than he anticipated. So, when he is unexpectedly offered a post at a police station in the small, remote village of Siglufjördur, in the north of Iceland, he immediately accepts – much to the annoyance of his girlfriend, Kristín, given that he had not discussed the matter with her beforehand.
Unfortunately, Siglufjördur is not like the busy Reykjavik Ari Thór is used to. Finding it difficult to adjust to life in a small community, where everyone knows each other, he soon begins to feel isolated and far from home. Treated like an outsider, his growing anxiety and claustrophobia is further intensified by the relentless and ever-deepening snow.
Just as he begins to wonder if it was a mistake to accept the job, local celebrity author, Hrólfur Kristjánsson, is found dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs. Although everyone, including his boss, thinks it was an accident, Ari Thór is not so sure and, when another body is found, he takes it upon himself to follow up his suspicions. However, the more he delves into the lives of the seemingly tight-knit inhabitants of the village, the more secrets he discovers … secrets which go even deeper than the snow.
Beautifully written by Ragnar Jónasson, and translated into English from the original Icelandic by Quentin Bates, ‘Snowblind’ is a compelling novel set against a harsh Icelandic winter – a world in which ever-present snow and long hours of darkness are all consuming.
With his dramatic and descriptive text, Jónasson paints a vivid picture of life in this remote village, where growing tensions and longstanding grievances suggest no lack of potential motive for murder. Together with his talent for breathing life into his characters, the result is an intriguing storyline which quickly draws the reader into the tangled lives of its main protagonists.
The only difficulty I had was remembering all the characters’ names, let alone trying to pronounce them. However, the story is so gripping and immersive, this proved to be a minor obstacle. I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Snowblind’ and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
November 2, 2020
The grass is not always greener on the other side
Care worker Aisha Brown and her husband Luke are desperate to have a child. However, during a visit to the clinic, Aisha is devastated to learn she is unable to bear children. To add to her distress, on her way home a car crashes into her while she is waiting at a junction.
Having been resuscitated at the scene, Aisha finally awakes from a coma only to discover she is in hospital with no memory of the crash. Worse still, instead of Luke comforting her, someone called Tom is standing by her bedside, claiming she is his wife, Zoe.
This scenario is the stuff of nightmares. Not only does everyone think Aisha is a woman called Zoe Young but when she looks in a mirror, she does not recognise the person staring back at her. Most upsetting of all, when she spots Luke in a supermarket, he has no idea who she is. In fact, when she tries to explain, he thinks she is deranged – especially as the woman he is with looks exactly like Aisha.
‘Junction: Time’s Ticking’ is a clever, yet disturbing novel where, apart from being the scene of Aisha’s accident, the junction also represents the point where two souls collide. The predicament of the main character is indeed an extreme one, as she struggles to convince those she loves she is the real Aisha trapped inside another woman’s body, her anguish and disorientation is palpable.
However, there is so much more to this compelling novel than its unusual plotline. As the story unfolds, a series of lies, secrets and betrayals are gradually revealed and skilfully woven into the layered fabric of this intriguing novel. Finally, just as Aisha begins to wonder whether she is better off living Zoe’s life, fate steps in and makes the decision for her. The ending, when it comes, is both surprising and chilling.
Having been resuscitated at the scene, Aisha finally awakes from a coma only to discover she is in hospital with no memory of the crash. Worse still, instead of Luke comforting her, someone called Tom is standing by her bedside, claiming she is his wife, Zoe.
This scenario is the stuff of nightmares. Not only does everyone think Aisha is a woman called Zoe Young but when she looks in a mirror, she does not recognise the person staring back at her. Most upsetting of all, when she spots Luke in a supermarket, he has no idea who she is. In fact, when she tries to explain, he thinks she is deranged – especially as the woman he is with looks exactly like Aisha.
‘Junction: Time’s Ticking’ is a clever, yet disturbing novel where, apart from being the scene of Aisha’s accident, the junction also represents the point where two souls collide. The predicament of the main character is indeed an extreme one, as she struggles to convince those she loves she is the real Aisha trapped inside another woman’s body, her anguish and disorientation is palpable.
However, there is so much more to this compelling novel than its unusual plotline. As the story unfolds, a series of lies, secrets and betrayals are gradually revealed and skilfully woven into the layered fabric of this intriguing novel. Finally, just as Aisha begins to wonder whether she is better off living Zoe’s life, fate steps in and makes the decision for her. The ending, when it comes, is both surprising and chilling.
October 10, 2020
There’s no escaping the past
‘The Split’ is an exciting, yet quite complicated thriller which, although demanding of concentration, is thoroughly worth the time invested.
Felicity Lloyd is desperate to escape from Freddie, a violent man currently in prison for murder, who has vowed to find her. Consequently, when she is offered a job with the British Antarctic Survey team to study glaciers on the island of South Georgia, she eagerly accepts.
Believing the remote base to be far enough away for her to be safe, Felicity is devasted when, two years later, she receives a letter from Freddie informing her of his release from prison. Worse still, not only does he know where she is, but he is now on his way to the island and due to arrive any day. Realising she can never run far enough, Felicity is left with little option but to take refuge on the glacier she knows so well, and hope Freddie is ill equipped to follow her.
This dilemma is the dramatic opening scenario for Sharon Bolton’s intense and original thriller, ‘The Split’. Divided into four parts, the novel centres around a young woman’s struggle to cope with the far-reaching consequences of a childhood trauma, and the determination of her therapist, Dr Joe Grant, to help her face up to the devastating truth buried deep within her psyche.
While the first part of the novel sets the scene for the explosive climax that is to come, the second part goes back two years to explore the gradual decline in Felicity’s state of mind, and the reason why she chooses to ignore her therapist’s advice and take such a drastic action. Add to this a series of murders among the homeless community of Cambridge and a complicated mystery soon begins to unfold, with Felicity at the centre of it all. Having eventually discovered the shocking truth about the enigmatic Felicity Lloyd in part three, by the time the reader arrives at part four, the tension is sky high as the revelations keep coming, making for a thrilling and clever finale. It is a reading experience not to be missed.
Felicity Lloyd is desperate to escape from Freddie, a violent man currently in prison for murder, who has vowed to find her. Consequently, when she is offered a job with the British Antarctic Survey team to study glaciers on the island of South Georgia, she eagerly accepts.
Believing the remote base to be far enough away for her to be safe, Felicity is devasted when, two years later, she receives a letter from Freddie informing her of his release from prison. Worse still, not only does he know where she is, but he is now on his way to the island and due to arrive any day. Realising she can never run far enough, Felicity is left with little option but to take refuge on the glacier she knows so well, and hope Freddie is ill equipped to follow her.
This dilemma is the dramatic opening scenario for Sharon Bolton’s intense and original thriller, ‘The Split’. Divided into four parts, the novel centres around a young woman’s struggle to cope with the far-reaching consequences of a childhood trauma, and the determination of her therapist, Dr Joe Grant, to help her face up to the devastating truth buried deep within her psyche.
While the first part of the novel sets the scene for the explosive climax that is to come, the second part goes back two years to explore the gradual decline in Felicity’s state of mind, and the reason why she chooses to ignore her therapist’s advice and take such a drastic action. Add to this a series of murders among the homeless community of Cambridge and a complicated mystery soon begins to unfold, with Felicity at the centre of it all. Having eventually discovered the shocking truth about the enigmatic Felicity Lloyd in part three, by the time the reader arrives at part four, the tension is sky high as the revelations keep coming, making for a thrilling and clever finale. It is a reading experience not to be missed.
September 2, 2019
Beware of revenge-fuelled obsession
I have to admit, when I first started to read ‘Wilderness’ I was not sure whether I was going to enjoy it or not. The opening chapter contained some long and meandering sentences; past and present events were interwoven; and initially, I found it difficult to work out what was going on. However, I am glad I stuck with it as the story gathered pace in the next few chapters and, by then, I was hooked.
The novel begins with Olivia and Will Taylor trying to repair the damage done to their marriage by Will’s affair with a younger woman, Jenna. Now desperate to regain Olivia’s trust, Will has persuaded her to join him on an American road trip. He is hoping that, alone in a completely different environment, it will help to bring them back together. However, Olivia cannot get past his adultery. All she can think about is Will and Jenna together. Therefore, as they travel through the mountains and deserts of Arizona, not only does she reflect on the events leading up to Will’s betrayal, she also starts to consider ways of taking revenge on him and his ‘whore’ of a mistress.
Previously a happily married couple, the trouble begins when the couple leave their home in Wales to live in America. Having been promoted to Events and Client Manager at the Lowbeck Hotel in New York, Will’s new position necessitates the couple moving to the United States. At first, the prospect is exciting for both of them. However, the gloss soon fades for Olivia as, unable to work owing to the terms of Will’s visa, she finds herself stuck alone in their apartment, trying to write articles for the travel book she is working on. She is already feeling discontented with her situation, when she accidentally discovers an intimate text on Will’s phone from one of his female colleagues, and realises they are having an affair. It is then, as Olivia begins to discover the extent of Will’s lies, that the darker side of her nature starts to surface.
Eventually agreeing to accompany her seemingly remorseful husband on his planned road trip, Olivia is horrified when they bump into Jenna and her boyfriend, apparently following the same route as them. Although Will claims it is just coincidence, Olivia is far from convinced. When she subsequently discovers Jenna is actually staying in the same motel, her obsession with revenge gradually spirals into something much more sinister and dangerous.
Finally, seizing an unexpected opportunity to give vent to her anger, jealousy and hatred ignite within her, triggering a series of consequences which eventually result in Olivia becoming the one with secrets to keep.
‘Wilderness’ is a compelling study in jealousy and the need for retribution it can awake in all of us – given the right circumstances. As none of us know what we are truly capable of until faced with such a situation, this novel is not only a gripping thriller but also a salutary warning.
The novel begins with Olivia and Will Taylor trying to repair the damage done to their marriage by Will’s affair with a younger woman, Jenna. Now desperate to regain Olivia’s trust, Will has persuaded her to join him on an American road trip. He is hoping that, alone in a completely different environment, it will help to bring them back together. However, Olivia cannot get past his adultery. All she can think about is Will and Jenna together. Therefore, as they travel through the mountains and deserts of Arizona, not only does she reflect on the events leading up to Will’s betrayal, she also starts to consider ways of taking revenge on him and his ‘whore’ of a mistress.
Previously a happily married couple, the trouble begins when the couple leave their home in Wales to live in America. Having been promoted to Events and Client Manager at the Lowbeck Hotel in New York, Will’s new position necessitates the couple moving to the United States. At first, the prospect is exciting for both of them. However, the gloss soon fades for Olivia as, unable to work owing to the terms of Will’s visa, she finds herself stuck alone in their apartment, trying to write articles for the travel book she is working on. She is already feeling discontented with her situation, when she accidentally discovers an intimate text on Will’s phone from one of his female colleagues, and realises they are having an affair. It is then, as Olivia begins to discover the extent of Will’s lies, that the darker side of her nature starts to surface.
Eventually agreeing to accompany her seemingly remorseful husband on his planned road trip, Olivia is horrified when they bump into Jenna and her boyfriend, apparently following the same route as them. Although Will claims it is just coincidence, Olivia is far from convinced. When she subsequently discovers Jenna is actually staying in the same motel, her obsession with revenge gradually spirals into something much more sinister and dangerous.
Finally, seizing an unexpected opportunity to give vent to her anger, jealousy and hatred ignite within her, triggering a series of consequences which eventually result in Olivia becoming the one with secrets to keep.
‘Wilderness’ is a compelling study in jealousy and the need for retribution it can awake in all of us – given the right circumstances. As none of us know what we are truly capable of until faced with such a situation, this novel is not only a gripping thriller but also a salutary warning.
August 3, 2017
With a little help from my friends
The best investment I made this month was to have my latest manuscript edited by the marvellous Sian Phillips. Her eagle eye and attention to detail have helped turn my okay novel into something special. The icing on the cake was her opinion that she believed it belonged on a bookshop’s shelf. All I need to do now is find an agent who shares her vision. If there are any budding authors out there in need of a good editor, I can thoroughly recommend Sian. Visit her Twitter page: @_Sians
November 14, 2016
Free copy of Truth & Revenge
From today until Friday, November 18th I am running a promotion for my novel “Truth & Revenge. To download your free copy, visit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Truth-Reveng...
I would be very interested to hear your thoughts and constructive criticism. Reviews are an author’s bread and butter, as they help us to improve our writing and give our audiences the kind of stories they want to read.
I hope you enjoy my novel and look forward to reading your comments.
I would be very interested to hear your thoughts and constructive criticism. Reviews are an author’s bread and butter, as they help us to improve our writing and give our audiences the kind of stories they want to read.
I hope you enjoy my novel and look forward to reading your comments.
