Review: Two thumbs up
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 9, 2012
Two Weeks in South France is the story of Christopher Voss, whose father was murdered in South France. Upon his arrival he is told many times to conclude the funeral arrangements quickly and return home, but as he unravels more of his father's history he seems more and more determined to get to the bottom of why his father was killed. Each chapter covers the events of a single day.Chris has little idea of who he can really trust. Most of the characters were likeable and/or distinguished, and while it seems apparent that many of them aren't telling Chris the whole truth, it's interesting to see how Chris handles and reacts to them. The story is as much about Chris's parents as it is about him. He never really got to know them, particularly his father, and it's only after his father's murder that Chris learns about his history. At the same time we see that Chris is determined, resourceful, and rather like his father. It sets up a dynamic in the story that works well. I was kept guessing about how Chris would deal with events and people.This story has elements of a good thriller/mystery. There are several suspicious characters from different organizations, all pulling Chris in different directions for their own purposes. Chris is followed, nearly killed, spied on and his items are ransacked. At times the writing conveys the tenseness of situations well. I didn't expect to be as enthralled by this story as I was, but I found it to be very enjoyable. The writing is simple and clear. One thing I would have improved was the transitions. What I mean is that sometimes Chris is conversing with one character, then in the next paragraph he's somewhere else ordering a cup of tea. The transitions could have been more smooth. Some editing would have helped. There are some grammar issues that gave me pause, but it's not absolutely riddled with errors.