Passing Through by Jacqueline Dixon

Olsten Ryder is a successful, affluent and ambitious businessman, his collectable doll manufacturing company being amongst the most niche in the world.

But when he is accused of the murder of Celeste Harrington, a young and beautiful member of his own social circle, his friends and colleagues are left astounded when he disappears from police custody, leaving no trace that he’d ever existed.

Over the years that pass after Olsten’s disappearance, his former colleagues and friends remain in contact and they are all invited to the twenty-first birthday party of Amitola, the adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Defoe, successful architects and friends of James Lambert, who just happens to be Olsten Ryder’s solicitor.

Genre: Speculative Fiction/Crime/Thriller with touch of fantasy
Publisher: Provoco Publishing

Everyone is delighted to meet together again, and even more so when Amitola’s engagement is announced at her party. What could possibly happen to threaten such a happy occasion and does Olsten Ryder’s mysterious disappearance have anything to do with the events that come to pass?

Passing Through is Jacqueline Dixon’s debut novel, a dark and thought-provoking murder mystery with more than a touch of speculative fiction and a bit of fantasy thrown into the mix for good measure. An absorbing and enthralling read.

My Review

Celeste Harrington’s ‘descent into madness’ was interesting to watch. From a high spirited social butterfly to a crazed psychopath, given to outbursts of violence and spite, she quickly becomes a different person. She is obsessed with ceramic doll manufacturer Olsten Ryder and believes that he wants to marry her. She even ditches her fiance and cancels their wedding. But Olsten denies all knowledge of this romance, it’s all in her muddled head.

I was surprised to discover Olsten is only around 40 years old, I thought initially he was at least 50 from the description and the fact that he was so much older than Celeste.

I loved the whole concept of the miniature ceramic dolls, all lovingly designed, dressed in beautiful clothes and wearing real jewels, including diamonds and other precious stones. I dread to think how much they cost. They were created for collectors, not as children’s toys. But my favourite part was Celeste’s murder, which was both original and ingenious. That’s all I’m saying.

Amongst the other characters we meet are Millicent, Olsten’s secretary, Olsten’s best friend and lawyer James, French fashion designer Danielle, jewellery designer Lily, and Roy on reception, to name just a few.

This was a great debut novel, my only reservation being the fantasy part, but that’s just me.

Many thanks to Hygge Book Tours for inviting me to be part of the #PassingThrough #blogtour.

About the Author

Passing Through is Jacqueline Dixon’s debut novel for Provoco Publishing. Signed in 2024, Jacqueline grew up in Gravesend, Kent. After leaving school she ventured into London to work at IPC Magazines as a letter writer for Woman’s Own Magazine, and she later moved to another department where she began training for a short period as a proofreader. For a number of years thereafter she worked as a legal secretary both in London and Gravesend before she relocated overseas to work in Saudi Arabia until she retired back to the UK.

Jacqueline had a lifelong dream of becoming a writer and always had a great interest in writing and feeling excited about creating characters and deciding their fate.She developed a deep love of books at a very young ageand one of her first very favourite books that she could not put down was the The Herries Chronicles by Hugh Walpole. Jacqueline also has a great admiration for the many stories written by Daphne du Maurier and Agatha Christie. She relishes reading novels and feels that getting tucked into a good book is like enjoying a delicious meal.

She has written numerous manuscripts that currently lay dormant, filed away, never having been published, although this may now be about to change. Currently living in Sandwich, a charming small town in Kent, Jacqueline is looking forward to seeing Passing Through on the bookshelves and is looking to delve into that pile of ‘never been published’ manuscripts for her next novel.

Social Media Handles
Twitter/X: 
@jacqueline50024
@hyggebooktours
Instagram: 
@weareprovoco
@hyggebooktours
Facebook:
JacquelineDixon
@hyggebooktours

Twitter: @hyggebooktours
Instagram: @hyggebooktours
Facebook: @hyggebooktours
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/579709950565714