This is an historical romance at its finest. The story centers on Alina Dziak, a young Polish girl, who had to navigate through life during the occupation of her country during WW11. “The Things We Cannot Say” is a heart wrenching, terrifying and enlightening.
The storyline although romantic seemed closed to historical accuracy. It is told in two movements with two narratives in alternating chapters: Alina’s recounts her life and events she lived through during the war and Alice’s, Alina’s grand-daughter, present day voice recounts her day to day life and her trip to Poland to see what became of those cherished by Alina.
Much of this book is based on the romance between Alina and her boyfriend Tomasz. It is a bit mushy but I was in the right mind set for this kind of story so I really loved it. For those who read a lot the war time period will see the events developed long before it was written but Ms. Rimmer gave it her own spin and has provided powerful timelines that smoothly came together to conclude this sad but lovely story. By the end of the book I had my box of tissues near me….
It is a wonderful read, with its awesome twists that came from time to time to keep the tension on, making this book hard to put down. I couldn’t swap the pages fast enough to see where the drama would lead. Indeed I wasn’t disappointed in roller coaster story, so captivated by the level of turmoil in both stories and how that impacted the families that I stayed glues to every word…”The Things We cannot Say” also showcases the lengths one will go for those we love. Ms. Rimmer’s has an undeniable talent to draw believable and captivating players and to place them in roles true to character. Well-done.
My thanks to the Publisher Graydon House and Netgalleys for the ARC
“We All Fall Down” is a thought-provoking book which looks squarely at a cataclysm of unimaginable proportions. The Black Death has arrived in Italy and the story will tell us how people will react to the catastrophe. Will Dr. Alana Vaugh, an infectious diseases expert with NATO find the source in time to save the world?
Daniel Kalla who practices emergency medicine in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada has once again written an absolutely riveting drama hard to put down. Very knowledgeable in the subject, his words plunges his readers’ right in the middle of the crises where experts are on the hunt to track down Patient Zero. Their search brings them across an 800 year monastery and a medieval journal that may be key to understanding and solving the outbreak.
This 10th novel that combines suspense with a historical mystery is told in alternating chapters drawing us back to the Middle Ages where the initial outbreak took place then we are smoothly taken forward to today’s crises where NATO, WHO and local representatives need to find a solution. Mr. Kalla demonstrates a masterful skill needed for genuine suspense by capitalizing and building on the danger of exposure and the panic ensuing. The writing shines with medical and scientific expertise.
No person is left unscathed, no family untouched. Death grows insatiable……this is scary to think, could biological terrorism really happen, how fast can viruses spread and how safe are we?
Mr. Kalla is one of my favourite authors and I wouldn’t miss any of his books. I read them all….This latest is a well-done nail biting thriller….
I received this ARC from the publisher Simon Schuster via NetGalleys for me thoughts.
No Time for Goodbye, Book #1
This very suspenseful story revolves around the unexplained overnight disappearance of a teenage girl’s family. It open 25 years later with Cynthia Biggs, the long abandoned daughter still looking to solve the mystery in her life.
The book’s raison d’être is to disclose the mystery behind the disappearance and eventually solving the case. Mr. Barclay makes time for meticulous plotting, chapters are overflowing with details and no clue is left behind explanations. The narrator is Cynthia’s husband, Terry, who tries his best to cope with Cynthia’s tension went she is pushed over the edge after appearing on a TV show. She keeps on seeing things such as a recurring automobile, a stranger that looks like her brother, her father’s hat suddenly placed on the kitchen table.
It may be a cliché to say that this novel is hard to put down, so true for me. This story has a great premise and a cast of people trapped in a terrifying situation. “No Time for Goodbye” has a large cast of characters, both past and present who plays parts in Cynthia’s life. I will spare you the details. Revealing too much will spoil both the journey of Terry has endured as well as the story’s conclusion.
This is one of those stories that kept me hooked from the beginning till the end. The development of the characters is so well-done I really felt for them. I love the way the plot sawed back and forth: Terry wracked with doubt questioning his wife sanity then rallying to her side. The language is relevant and reflects what the characters are not afraid to say. Some would say this novel has an adult theme for that reason.
This contemporary novel is fast paced and has the right amount of tension to deliver a neat and unexpected twist that makes this novel all worthwhile.
