Riverflow by Alison Layland - Blog Tour and review
Today I'm part of the Blog Tour for the new title by Alison Layland - Riverflow.
My Review:
Riverflow, as the name suggests is a book set in a watery location, the banks of the River Severn in the Welsh marches, on the borders between rural England and Wales, the writing however is far from watery, it is slick and engaging and subtly nuanced.
It is all about undercurrents and things glimpsed below the surface which appear murky and alarming.
The setting of rural Wales has a lovely bucolic feel and the author does a sterling job of making the reader feel familiar with a place, I for one, have never visited.
The themes of climate change and fracking are ultra-current, with eco-warrior Bede taking the lead role accompanied by his long-suffering wife Elin at his side. He believes passionately about environmental issues and is bent on saving the planet. Determined to stop fracking taking place nearby he makes it his mission.
The couple, who are still grieving the death of a family member are struggling to keep their relationship together, and as secrets from the past uncurl, accidents begin to happen around them and Elin, feeling threatened grows fearful and more uncertain of who she can trust.
I did find it took me a little while to work out exactly who was who and when it all clicked into place I was already immersed in the story, this is a good old fashioned mystery with subtle psychological undercurrents.
If you enjoy well thought out books within a beautiful location, intimately described with a depth of feeling, quirky characters and plenty of mysteries and secrets you won’t go wrong with this book.
A creeping psychological thriller with tensions which move as sinuously as the river flows by I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys a psychological family drama with plenty of tension.
Brought to you by @Honno books and #damppebblesblogtours it is out in paperback and for your kindle you can order a copy now, or support the blog tour by visiting some of my fellow bloggers on this tour where you'll find articles as well as differing points of view about the book.
The Blurb
After a beloved family member is drowned in a devastating flood, Bede and Elin Sherwell want nothing more than to be left in peace to pursue their off-grid life. But when the very real prospect of fracking hits their village, they are drawn in to the frontline protests.
During a spring of relentless rain, a series of mysterious threats and suspicious accidents put friendships on the line and the Sherwells' marriage under unbearable tension.
Is there a connection with their uncle's death?
As the river rises under torrential rain, pressure mounts, Bede's sense of self begins to crumble and Elin is no longer sure who to believe or what to believe in.
About Alison Layland:
Alison Layland is a writer and translator. Raised in Newark and Bradford, she now lives on the Wales/Shropshire border. She studied Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic at Cambridge University and translates from German, French and Welsh into English. Her published translations include a number of bestselling novels.
Today I'm part of the Blog Tour for the new title by Alison Layland - Riverflow.
My Review:
Riverflow, as the name suggests is a book set in a watery location, the banks of the River Severn in the Welsh marches, on the borders between rural England and Wales, the writing however is far from watery, it is slick and engaging and subtly nuanced.
It is all about undercurrents and things glimpsed below the surface which appear murky and alarming.
The setting of rural Wales has a lovely bucolic feel and the author does a sterling job of making the reader feel familiar with a place, I for one, have never visited.
The themes of climate change and fracking are ultra-current, with eco-warrior Bede taking the lead role accompanied by his long-suffering wife Elin at his side. He believes passionately about environmental issues and is bent on saving the planet. Determined to stop fracking taking place nearby he makes it his mission.
The couple, who are still grieving the death of a family member are struggling to keep their relationship together, and as secrets from the past uncurl, accidents begin to happen around them and Elin, feeling threatened grows fearful and more uncertain of who she can trust.
I did find it took me a little while to work out exactly who was who and when it all clicked into place I was already immersed in the story, this is a good old fashioned mystery with subtle psychological undercurrents.
If you enjoy well thought out books within a beautiful location, intimately described with a depth of feeling, quirky characters and plenty of mysteries and secrets you won’t go wrong with this book.
A creeping psychological thriller with tensions which move as sinuously as the river flows by I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys a psychological family drama with plenty of tension.
Brought to you by @Honno books and #damppebblesblogtours it is out in paperback and for your kindle you can order a copy now, or support the blog tour by visiting some of my fellow bloggers on this tour where you'll find articles as well as differing points of view about the book.
After a beloved family member is drowned in a devastating flood, Bede and Elin Sherwell want nothing more than to be left in peace to pursue their off-grid life. But when the very real prospect of fracking hits their village, they are drawn in to the frontline protests.
During a spring of relentless rain, a series of mysterious threats and suspicious accidents put friendships on the line and the Sherwells' marriage under unbearable tension.
Is there a connection with their uncle's death?
As the river rises under torrential rain, pressure mounts, Bede's sense of self begins to crumble and Elin is no longer sure who to believe or what to believe in.
About Alison Layland:
Alison Layland is a writer and translator. Raised in Newark and Bradford, she now lives on the Wales/Shropshire border. She studied Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic at Cambridge University and translates from German, French and Welsh into English. Her published translations include a number of bestselling novels.
Social Media:
Website: http://www.alayland.uk/
