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Keith Bradnam reviewed They: a sequence of unease by Kay Dick

This is Britain: but not as we know it.

THEY begin with a dead dog, …

My review of ‘They’

3 stars

It is an unusual book to read. There is very little exposition to explain the background as to what events have transpired. so your opinion of the world that the book is set in is based on very little material.

The chapters felt disconnected…they are more like snapshots into the life of the protagonist and you are left wondering how much time has passed between each chapter.

The language is beautiful and the book does an amazing job of conjuring up dark forboding images just by the references to ‘they’, ‘them’ ‘they’re’ etc.

I liked it but was washing for more from the ending.

Keith Bradnam reviewed Lost in Time by A. G. Riddle

No cover — Lost in Time (2023, Head of Zeus)

Review of Lost in Time

4 stars

It is certainly a good page-turner. Lots of short chapters that frequently end on mini-cliffhangers.

I was pleasantly surprised by plot developments in the final third of the book with a real ‘I didn’t see that coming’ moment’ at one point.

However, I didn’t really feel invested in the characters and the writing wasn’t as evocative as other time-travel related books that I’ve read of late.

Keith Bradnam reviewed What You Did by Pearl Hewitt

Review of 'What You Did' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

Warning: minor spoiler in this review

I read this book for the following reasons:

1. I’m trying to read a book a month this year
2. It’s free as part of Amazon Prime
3. It’s a thriller/mystery which hinted that it was a page-turner with a surprise ending

After I read this book, I saw another reviewer’s comment which I think captures my feelings pretty well:  “There is a new tragedy on every page.”

The initial premise of the book seemed interesting enough to justify filling the 282 pages. A college reunion between six friends where it all goes horribly wrong:  

‘When Karen staggers in from the garden, bleeding and traumatised, she claims that she has been assaulted—by Ali’s husband, Mike. Ali must make a split-second decision: who should she believe? Her horrified husband, or her best friend?’

There are so many further revelations as the story progresses. You almost …

Warning: minor spoiler in this review

I read this book for the following reasons:

1. I’m trying to read a book a month this year
2. It’s free as part of Amazon Prime
3. It’s a thriller/mystery which hinted that it was a page-turner with a surprise ending

After I read this book, I saw another reviewer’s comment which I think captures my feelings pretty well:  “There is a new tragedy on every page.”

The initial premise of the book seemed interesting enough to justify filling the 282 pages. A college reunion between six friends where it all goes horribly wrong:  

‘When Karen staggers in from the garden, bleeding and traumatised, she claims that she has been assaulted—by Ali’s husband, Mike. Ali must make a split-second decision: who should she believe? Her horrified husband, or her best friend?’

There are so many further revelations as the story progresses. You almost have no time to adjust to the latest reality before the next earth-shattering event happens. It wouldn’t have surprised me if the book concluded with an unexploded bomb going off in Ali’s garden. Or perhaps the final revelation would be that Martha was secretly still alive and was pulling strings behind the scenes to torture everyone.

I’ve no problem with the style of writing and I think the relationship between Ali and Karen is handled in a believable way (if two close friends were to find themselves in this terrible situation).

Apart from one character (Bill), this book was just an exercise in introducing ways to make me loathe/despise/pity (delete as appropriate) the main characters.

Keith Bradnam reviewed Els Testaments by Margaret Atwood

Els Testaments (català language, 2020, Quaderns Crema)

Margaret Atwood ; traducció de l'anglès d'Ernest Riera

Review of 'Els testaments' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

I had never read The Handmaid's Tale until this year and I enjoyed that so much that I was ready for more. I think reading both books back-to-back has helped me enjoy the latter book more than if I had read it months or years later.

I think I like the sequel more because I find Aunt Lydia's character more interesting than Offred from the first book. I find her a rich, multi-faceted, character who is certainly morally ambiguous.

I really enjoyed the constant changing between the three main narrative viewpoints, and the way those narratives slowly, but surely, coalesce as you reach the end of the book.

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