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A review by fictionophile
Swimming at Night by Lucy Clarke
4.0
This review was originally published on my blog: Fictionophile
“People go traveling for two reasons: because they are searching for something, or they are running from something”.
Sometimes it is for BOTH those reasons.
This debut novel by Lucy Clarke is a study in what it means to be a sibling. The complicated love-hate relationship that follows us from birth onwards. Whether the siblings are very similar, or as different as ‘chalk and cheese’, we are expected to love unconditionally, accept the others’ faults, and remain loyal whatever the consequences to ourselves.
Katie and Mia couldn’t be more different. Katie, a straight-laced traditional young woman with intense loyalties and a strong work ethic. And Mia, a bohemian free-spirit who lives in and of the moment. Although they had a close relationship when they were small, adulthood has emphasized their differences and there is a deep rift between them.
When Katie gets word that Mia’s body has been discovered in Bali, a suspected suicide, her world is forever changed. Feelings of guilt over their estrangement compounded with the fact that suicide is so out of character for Mia cause Katie to make the profound decision to leave her orderly life in London behind to retrace Mia’s journey. She hopes that she will gain insight into Mia’s reasons for her tragic and inconceivable death.
Leaving her fiance and job behind in London, Kate leaves on her journey armed with only Mia’s backpack and travel journal for company.
Many adventures await Katie on her journey. Distraught and introspective – Katie slowly follows the exact route that Mia took and page by page reads her travel journal to gain extra insight into what spurred Mia to end up as she did…
Family secrets are revealed. Betrayals are exposed. Still Kate travels on. Leaving more than just her stolid life behind, she begins to discover herself in ways previously not thought of.
As a not very well traveled reader, the exotic locales of the novel evoked the travel experience with excellent descriptions of people and places. The relationship between the sisters was one which exemplified the strong bond shared by siblings the world over. With an added bonus of a ‘twist’ at the end, this novel will appeal to readers of the mystery/suspense genre as well as those who prefer ‘chick lit’. The pages seemed to turn themselves. Kudos to Lucy Clarke for an outstanding read!
“People go traveling for two reasons: because they are searching for something, or they are running from something”.
Sometimes it is for BOTH those reasons.
This debut novel by Lucy Clarke is a study in what it means to be a sibling. The complicated love-hate relationship that follows us from birth onwards. Whether the siblings are very similar, or as different as ‘chalk and cheese’, we are expected to love unconditionally, accept the others’ faults, and remain loyal whatever the consequences to ourselves.
Katie and Mia couldn’t be more different. Katie, a straight-laced traditional young woman with intense loyalties and a strong work ethic. And Mia, a bohemian free-spirit who lives in and of the moment. Although they had a close relationship when they were small, adulthood has emphasized their differences and there is a deep rift between them.
When Katie gets word that Mia’s body has been discovered in Bali, a suspected suicide, her world is forever changed. Feelings of guilt over their estrangement compounded with the fact that suicide is so out of character for Mia cause Katie to make the profound decision to leave her orderly life in London behind to retrace Mia’s journey. She hopes that she will gain insight into Mia’s reasons for her tragic and inconceivable death.
Leaving her fiance and job behind in London, Kate leaves on her journey armed with only Mia’s backpack and travel journal for company.
Many adventures await Katie on her journey. Distraught and introspective – Katie slowly follows the exact route that Mia took and page by page reads her travel journal to gain extra insight into what spurred Mia to end up as she did…
Family secrets are revealed. Betrayals are exposed. Still Kate travels on. Leaving more than just her stolid life behind, she begins to discover herself in ways previously not thought of.
As a not very well traveled reader, the exotic locales of the novel evoked the travel experience with excellent descriptions of people and places. The relationship between the sisters was one which exemplified the strong bond shared by siblings the world over. With an added bonus of a ‘twist’ at the end, this novel will appeal to readers of the mystery/suspense genre as well as those who prefer ‘chick lit’. The pages seemed to turn themselves. Kudos to Lucy Clarke for an outstanding read!