Review: Cracking first novel
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 12, 2014
You can read the book blurb to find out the story Christmas tells so I'll not cover too much of that but instead tell you that the main characters, Eleanor and Jake, draw you into this well told story, set in the East End of London in the 1970s. The historical and geographical references are spot on; enough to set the scene but not too much to detract from the fast paced story...and it's a cracking story.The characters are well drawn so for me, a visual reader, I was desperate to read on as the drama unfolded before my eyes. From local councillor to gang leader, lawyer to police inspector, Christmas paints each one in a hand that makes them memorable.No spoilers but the final third of the book didn't flow so well for me...I lost interest just a tiny bit. There were also a lot of exclamation marks (sorry...I notice things like that) throughout the book but, those points aside, it's a cracking first novel and well worth a read. Is it young adult fiction? I don't know but I enjoyed it and I'm ancient.