If you didn't read A Fatal Inversion before writing Half-broken Things then it proves that, unlike the Tooth Fairy, coincidences do exist. I would strongly advise you to read that book by Barbara Vine, aka Ruth Rendell, not only because it is a masterpiece but also because I would like you to come back to me and tell me what you think about its likeness to you own novel.
As for suing me for libel on the ground of my previous comment I wish you the best of luck. And to your lawyers too but if they are honest they will tell you you don't have a leg to stand on.
Best regards,
Michel Mazin'
I can only add to your public message that as a 'practising academic' you have shown very little intellectual curiosity if you didn't read AFI when the ressemblances between that novel and HBT was 'commented on'. It seems to me that any writer would have read it as soon as possible and fumed when discovering that the clever plot they had devised had been used before by another, iconic novelist. You are a brilliant writer. I am re-reading Every Step You Take and enjoying it as much as before : the impressionistic and yet deep characterization, the slowly mounting tension, not to mention the rich and subtle English it is written in. Neither Cheryl nor myself or the other Goodreads member who thought HBT did look familiar intended to hurt your feelings ; why would we as we only know you through reading your books and liking them ? Unless we are a bunch of sadists...
'Dear Ms Ross,
If you didn't read A Fatal Inversion before writing Half-broken Things then it proves that, unlike the Tooth Fairy, coincidences do exist. I would strongly advise you to read that book by Barbara Vine, aka Ruth Rendell, not only because it is a masterpiece but also because I would like you to come back to me and tell me what you think about its likeness to you own novel.
As for suing me for libel on the ground of my previous comment I wish you the best of luck. And to your lawyers too but if they are honest they will tell you you don't have a leg to stand on.
Best regards,
Michel Mazin'
I can only add to your public message that as a 'practising academic' you have shown very little intellectual curiosity if you didn't read AFI when the ressemblances between that novel and HBT was 'commented on'. It seems to me that any writer would have read it as soon as possible and fumed when discovering that the clever plot they had devised had been used before by another, iconic novelist.
You are a brilliant writer. I am re-reading Every Step You Take and enjoying it as much as before : the impressionistic and yet deep characterization, the slowly mounting tension, not to mention the rich and subtle English it is written in. Neither Cheryl nor myself or the other Goodreads member who thought HBT did look familiar intended to hurt your feelings ; why would we as we only know you through reading your books and liking them ? Unless we are a bunch of sadists...