© Robert Swann 2017
A cohesive narrative is woven around the characters using
first person accounts for multiple characters. This technique
has huge benefits for a piece of fiction that relies on not
revealing everything to the reader whilst maintaining
motivation and structure. As a result, it spins an excellent
narrative told through the subjective viewpoint of numerous
different parties. This technique slows the development of
plot points and gives the book an air of unreliability but it
allows the audience more naturally to connect with these
people and understand them more thoroughly. As a result,
every character feels fleshed out and distinct, making for a
greater ensemble of personalities that adds a great depth to
the narrative overall.
The opening ten percent of any book must do several things
and Smoke and Tranquillity fulfils these requirements
perfectly. The first few pages introduce Simon Hunter in an
exciting and satisfying way, immediately showing his visceral
reaction to the brutal opening news clip. This introduction is
perfectly crafted, introducing elements like the radical quasi-
religious sect New Light and the questionable motives of MI6
in ways that don’t feel obtrusive but natural and needed for
the story. Likewise, the opening acts as an introduction to
the writing style and the splitting up of different characters
allows the reader to get an understanding of the books
structure before it jumps into the narrative wholeheartedly.
This is not the authors first ‘Simon Hunter’ book but it
presents no problem for the reader; the no nonsense style of
writing quickly gets the audience up to speed with
everything they need to know.
In summary, Smoke and Tranquillity is as good a book of
its type as I have read for some time. It will be strong in
the market place because it is difficult to find fault with
it. It seems to possess everything required to be
successful and one cannot praise any higher than that.”
Yanina Goldenberg.
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