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Saturday, December 7, 2013

When The Clocks Stopped by Marion Eaton: A Review


 
BOOK TITLE: When the clocks stopped
ISBN: 9781471621895
AUTHOR: Marion Eaton
GENRE: Fiction/Time Warp/ Thriller
NUMBER OF PAGES: 338
FORMAT: Paperback
SERIES / STANDALONE: Mysterious Marsh #1
SUMMARY:
          Separated by two centuries, two young women confront evil and intrigue…
          1976. The wild and haunting Romney Marsh in the South of England.
          It’s the beginning of a long hot summer when Hazel Dawkins, a spirited young solicitor, takes maternity leave anticipating a period of tranquillity. Instead, the dreams begin. In them she encounters Annie, a passionate young woman whose romantic and tempestuous life was adventurously lived, more than two centuries previously, in the cottage that Hazel now occupies.
          As their destinies entwine, Hazel not only confronts a terrifying challenge which parallels history, she finds herself desperately fighting for survival in a cruel and unforgiving age. Even more disturbing is the realisation that her battle will affect the future for those in the past whose fate is, as yet, unwritten.
          Her only ally is Annie. Together they face events that echo through the centuries, events that are as violent and compelling as they are unexpected.
          And, as the past collides with the present, the time for the birth of Hazel’s child draws ever nearer.
REVIEW BY: Dhivya Balaji
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/20539669-dhivya-balaji
HOW I GOT THIS BOOK: The author contacted us via our Facebook Page and sent us paperback copies for review.
REVIEW:
          The book back summary intrigued me in ways no book has recently done. I took up this story with an eager anticipation due to the presence of women protagonists. Although my experience (and taste for) time travel novels is limited, this novel surprised me as it was not of the usual mould.
          Hazel Dawkins is a rare solicitor in the 1970s in the Romney Marsh area of England. She also happens to be the story’s narrator. (Yes, a first person narrative). She quits her well paying job to take care of her expected baby. But her wishes to be a hands-on mother are ruined when the local bank manager hires her service as a solicitor to aged clients and she agrees out of politeness.
          On the personal front, Hazel buys a beautiful cottage called the Rose Cottage in the Romney Marsh area. She inhabits the cottage which was previously the home of Annie and Jack, who lived two centuries ago. Hazel catches glimpses of a mystery woman in her house and feels the supernatural strongly. But all is not well in the Hazel universe. In spite of a loving husband and a great family, Hazel finds herself in the midst of hallucinating clients and dangerous criminals and smugglers.
          Aided by a loving husband and friendly neighbours, she sets out to solve the puzzle with the meagre pieces offered to her. Hazel is also frequented by dreams of Annie and her romance with Jack. Hazel realises that her actions might have a wider impact in both the present and the past worlds. The intrigue presented by a much pregnant, self deprecating woman and her adventures are beautifully written.
          The author’s experience as a solicitor is evident in the details she gives regarding wills and deeds. Much like how an engineer would be compelled to include a few pointers about his profession, this is inevitable. And it only makes the experience richer.  Her idea of time warping is also subtle and only slightly magical. In fact, they are so casual and believable if the reader is open-minded.
          But where the book falters is in the confusing narrative of the past. The language shift is slightly uncomfortable for everyone except the seasoned reader. But those with a love for the language will enjoy the author’s fluency and fluidity of the language. And the time confusion could be avoided in the successive books in the series. The past could have been made at least sequential in its own right.
          The plot is happening in the 1970s and is still relatable, and the visuals are breathtaking. Very few authors have the ability to bring out both the scenes and the characters to the readers’ mind eye as perfectly as Marion does. So much so that one can even imagine the voice of the lead character!
          The writing style is classic, with emphasis on description which rather than bore the reader, lend more detail to the story. Even the narratives of the past are clear once the language and scene set up is understood. The book could be made more attractive by better sequencing of events.
          This piece of work is rich in details and a thoroughly interesting page turner. Get down to reading it when you have a few good uninterrupted hours left to read. The book has enough twists and turns to keep you engrossed all through. And a thoroughly life size heroines who is devoid of heroics of any sort is a refreshing experience.      
WHAT I LIKED: The heroine, the story line, and interesting facts. It has been well researched and well written.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER: The story of the past could have been sequential, since it already is written in a different style of language.
VERDICT: Go for it if you like rich detailing in your stories. Give this book a read and you will never know it has been penned by a first time author!
RATING: 4.2/5
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
          Retired from legal practice, Marion lives near the sea in the beautiful Sussex country side with a long-suffering husband, a lazy Saluki and an urge to write into the small hours.
          This is her first novel.
          More information can be found at www.marioneaton.com
EDITIONS AVAILABLE: Paperback, digital
PRICE: $16.86 for paperback
BOOK LINKS: http://www.lulu.com/shop/m-l-eaton/when-the-clocks-stopped/paperback/product-21288739.html

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