This novel is a cross between The Bourne Identity and the story of the Tichbourne Claimant. It is set during and after the Napoleonic Wars. A man arrives in the Kentish village of Stelling Minnis. He knows no more about his past, or his identity, than that he was pulled alive from a pile of corpses on the battlefield of Waterloo. At the same time the long-lost son of the Lord of the Manor returns to the village to claim his inheritance. But is he who he says he is? And who is the mysterious stranger? The story jumps backwards and forwards in time before racing to the final confrontation.
It is a great premise for a story and the pacing of the tale was perfect with major turning-points placed almost precisely at the 25%, 50% and 75% marks. It's a fairly short book at 180 pages, quick and easy to read. There's plenty of action and the story never flags. There is little moral ambiguity although the main character feels that he is a curse on others which allows the reader to wonder whether the ending will be happy or tragic.
If you enjoy fast-paced straightforward thrillers, this is the book for you.
Selected quotes:
- "The sun crept up the sky the way ivy grows up a wall, slowly." (first line)
- "The river could mean salvation or death as he could not actually remember if he could swim." (Ch 19)
- "In the end, a person is their memories." (Ch 23)
September 2021
No comments:
Post a Comment