Book clubs in Worcestershire

Best summarised in this review: This is an intriguing and unusual novel which draws you in, to enjoy the journey as much as the destination. The central story line (spoiler alert!) is of an ordinary Anglican Clergyman living a fairly bland life in a comfortable English market town, whose existence is thrown into turmoil when, through an unexpected but credible turn of events, he comes to control the town’s main employer. However, all is not as it at first seems, and what could have been a dream come true turns into a nightmare for survival, during which he and others have to make life changing decisions. The background of competing pressures and priorities reflect real life, where life goes on regardless of other events. Matters come to a head during a desperate mission to a small war-torn African country. The lives of his family, and all living in the town and beyond, are touched in many ways, and are part of the narration. This gives the book balance and wide appeal, and is a change from so many modern novels which are channelled into a genre and written to a formula. The skilful use of dialogue and prose is well crafted yet easy to read. It is hard to remain objective whilst reading this book, as the dilemmas faced by the characters make the reader care and want to influence events, and it is this which makes the book difficult to put down. Though the early chapters are a little slow, frustration with this is part of the story, and the pace accelerates throughout; patience is rewarded many times over. It would probably appeal to a mature reader more than to youngsters, and is a bit more than a ‘holiday book’, in that it makes you think a bit rather than turning off the brain, but it is nevertheless a really good read for all occasions. Five stars!