Review: Unsettling, riveting, and masterful
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 18, 2014
Friends and strangers alike comprise the group of people gathered at the Sunset Villa in Jamaica. Among them is Matthew Kane, a travel reviewer whose previous bad review of the resort had seriously damaged its credibility. Several cancellations later, complicated by Hurricane Sandy, the resort is struggling. The owners invite Kane back hoping that a good stay will bring forth a better review and renewed business.Co-owner Anna Pearson contacts Dr. Kate Hampton, a respected psychiatrist and friend, for her professional opinion. Has Anna made a mistake in inviting Kane back? Anna is filled with a powerful and confusing sense of rage just reading about this man and in order to help her friend, she needs to observe his behavior in person.In Jamaica, Kate and others of disparate backgrounds arrive for the week. Eden Baylee’s characters are real, vibrant, quirky, enigmatic creatures. While reading, I felt like an invisible guest among the lot, watching, wondering, and not quite trusting anyone.The author is very careful with words. She does not litter the page with them. As a wise person once told me, “Write as if every word costs you a dollar.” That is how Baylee crafts her prose. She adeptly builds suspense at every turn.If I’d had the time, I would have read this novel in one sitting. For me, it was that engaging. I’m a big fan of literary fiction, psychological drama, and realistic, multi-faceted characters. Stranger at Sunset had me on edge from beginning to end. I’m very much looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Kudos to Eden Baylee for an extraordinary debut into a new genre.