Review: An excellent debut
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 13, 2012
I loved the short story collection, Corazones, by this same author and was so happy to discover SAVING HOPE. The character of Alexandra Pavlova is so well-developed and engaging, I was immediately drawn into her struggle to save her daughter. The description of the hospital included a wealth of detail; the dismissive attitude of some of the medical personnel, the long periods of waiting, the bluish tint of the child's lips, the feverish forehead. Above all, there was heart-pounding fear that her daughter could easily die because of inaction and apathy. The mother's sense of panic and frustration was depicted so realistically, I felt as though I was engaged in the same harrowing situation. Anyone who has ever been in a medical crisis can relate to this powerful first chapter. The chapters narrated by Sergei, the former FSB agent, were skillfully handled and the author made a skillful transition between the two voices. This is such a powerful, compelling book and I highly recommend it.