Review: A Gleaming Gem of a Novel
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 9, 2014
I have been on a bit of an Australian kick in recent months, and have read quite a few novels set in various time periods and places in that fascinating continent. I am planning a trip there, but I don't think that Coober Pedy will make my list of destinations. The author was able to craft a remarkable portrait of frontier life in a modern context, which juxtaposed most readers' idea of "life" with a small segment of the population who lives very differently. I was fascinated by his passion for gemstones, and as his biography reveals, there is nothing better for researching a subject than working in that setting for many years and developing an appreciation for the dangers, wonders, and unique nature of a career/profession.The descriptions of the characters seemed to be pulled from real experience, and while this book is technically a work of fiction, the fictitious elements were so brilliantly combined with real-world expertise and references that it seemed more like a journal of true events than a meticulously crafted novel. Drawing a reader into a strange world, something that barely resembles reality, makes for an exciting read, and Severs makes sure to grab the reader's attention from the very first page.Once you throw in a healthy dose of romance, murder, mystery, and the chaotic aftermath of deception in a wild area of the world where law and order is often handled ruthlessly and efficiently, without oversight of the "law"....you have one heck of a good story. I have never known much about mining, let along the specifics of opal mining, but I found myself not only entranced by the exposition and setting of the Coober Pedy opal mines, but also by the intricate relationships that formed between Matt, Maggie, and Brumby. All in all, a masterful combination of fiction, reality, and suspense that kept me entertained to the very end. Nicely done!