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A review by strawberrymivvy
The Night of the Storm by Nishita Parekh
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This was a solid debut that kept the pages turning, but I felt it did falter a bit at the end, as this type of novel often does.
Jia is a single mum, struggling to adapt in a new city with its new weather challenges. As a major hurricane approaches, her sister suggests her and her son hang out with them where they will be safe. Her sister's brother in law and his wife are also there, then a neighbour too, and gradually we find out there is more going on between these people than meets the eye. Eventually one of them is dead, but what happened? How can Jia gather evidence to track down the killer, whilst still keeping her son safe
This is in many ways a traditional locked room mystery, but the weather becomes its own character and adds a lot of atmosphere.
I did feel at times the author used overly "fancy" words, as if trying to prove she's an intelligent woman, but on the whole it was well-written and seemed to capture pretty well the nuances of an immigrant family. Having said that, none of the characters were particularly likeable, but that's part of the "charm" of the book
Jia is a single mum, struggling to adapt in a new city with its new weather challenges. As a major hurricane approaches, her sister suggests her and her son hang out with them where they will be safe. Her sister's brother in law and his wife are also there, then a neighbour too, and gradually we find out there is more going on between these people than meets the eye. Eventually one of them is dead, but what happened? How can Jia gather evidence to track down the killer, whilst still keeping her son safe
This is in many ways a traditional locked room mystery, but the weather becomes its own character and adds a lot of atmosphere.
I did feel at times the author used overly "fancy" words, as if trying to prove she's an intelligent woman, but on the whole it was well-written and seemed to capture pretty well the nuances of an immigrant family. Having said that, none of the characters were particularly likeable, but that's part of the "charm" of the book