Review: A Compelling Start of a New Series
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 24, 2014
I've been jumping around the mystery genre for a few months now, after many years away from the subject, and I am very happy that I've jumped back in. I've been lucky enough to stumble across a number of promising authors, and King is certainly no exception. Granted, this could definitely be classified as "chick lit", but a strong protagonist and a tangled plot of mysteries and lies is fun for any reader, no matter what gender you happen to be. I particularly like how this book peeled back a few extra layers in terms of character development and bent the lines of the genre to include some philosophy and existential musing, while also delivering a compact, unpredictable plot that I couldn't tear myself away from.As a character, Selkie is charming, strong, and independent, happy to take on the challenges and mysteries that are literally haunting her steps. The idea of seeking out past lies and uncovering previously unknown truths from your past is an interesting premise, and not an easy one to write about. There is always the danger of getting too symbolic or allegorical, allowing the reader to get distracted or more interested in the message than the mystery. However, King balances suspense and surprises with some solid reflection, giving the reader a perfect story on a silver platter that ties us tightly to the fate of this remarkable woman, and makes us hungry for the next installment of the Selkie Moon series. Once again, I'm glad I've come back to mysteries, and I'm certainly glad that I found Virginia King!