This one was disappointing. After absolutely loving The Jewel of St. Petersburg, I found the plot of The Far Side of the Sun felt more forced than inspired, and the romantic elements felt too Harlequin-esque. The characters failed to hold my attention, which is a shame since I was so intrigued by the setting of 1940s Bahamas.
I can hardly believe it's the same author, but I'm in no way put off reading more from Kate Furnivall. I think her passion for writing shines more authentically in Russian settings.
I can hardly believe it's the same author, but I'm in no way put off reading more from Kate Furnivall. I think her passion for writing shines more authentically in Russian settings.
It is 1943 and the world is in the midst of a terrible war but life is peaceful for Dodie Wyatt who has known her share of chaos, death and poverty. She loves the Bahamas and the island were she lives. It's not a bad life but one night on her way home from work she discovers an injured man in alley. She manages to take him to her home and cares for him until he dies from his injuries which were caused by another wielding a sharp knife. Unknown to her, another man observes her efforts, Flynn Hudson, whose friendship with the deceased prompts him to get to know Dodie.
As Dodie and Flynn slowly but painfully get to know one another they discover they both want to find out who knifed Johnny Morrell. Dodie wants to know who he was and why he was on the island but Flynn says little. As trust builds something more occurs. They begin to care about each other. Dodie discovers she has fallen love with stranger who has told her so little about himself but does it really matter who he is or what he does?
Dodie and Flynn are the core characters in the novel and as they search for answers to Morrell's death, their lives become at risk, too. The author chooses to add another romance into the equation perhaps to provide a pathway to answers about Morrell's death. I'm not certain about that but the death of a prominent wealthy man on the island leads to national focus. The trail eventually leads to money for greedy men are seeking to develop the island's beauty for tourist use after the war. These men understand that the war will one day end and people will seek new vacation spots.
Of course, Dodie's motives are not believed because she is a poor working girl who quit a job when the factory owner tried to rape her. His story was that she led him on and because of his station he is believed above Dodie. Flynn is a man of shadows. He grew up under the influence of mobsters and works for them. It's all he has every known until he meets Dodie. He, in turn, is accused of murdering his friend, Johnny Morrell, particularly when the real murderer puts incriminating evidence in his room.
It's a good, good read with action, romance and thrills. The author leaves the ending open as if she might write a followup. We shall have to wait and see.
As Dodie and Flynn slowly but painfully get to know one another they discover they both want to find out who knifed Johnny Morrell. Dodie wants to know who he was and why he was on the island but Flynn says little. As trust builds something more occurs. They begin to care about each other. Dodie discovers she has fallen love with stranger who has told her so little about himself but does it really matter who he is or what he does?
Dodie and Flynn are the core characters in the novel and as they search for answers to Morrell's death, their lives become at risk, too. The author chooses to add another romance into the equation perhaps to provide a pathway to answers about Morrell's death. I'm not certain about that but the death of a prominent wealthy man on the island leads to national focus. The trail eventually leads to money for greedy men are seeking to develop the island's beauty for tourist use after the war. These men understand that the war will one day end and people will seek new vacation spots.
Of course, Dodie's motives are not believed because she is a poor working girl who quit a job when the factory owner tried to rape her. His story was that she led him on and because of his station he is believed above Dodie. Flynn is a man of shadows. He grew up under the influence of mobsters and works for them. It's all he has every known until he meets Dodie. He, in turn, is accused of murdering his friend, Johnny Morrell, particularly when the real murderer puts incriminating evidence in his room.
It's a good, good read with action, romance and thrills. The author leaves the ending open as if she might write a followup. We shall have to wait and see.
