Saturday, July 6, 2013

Break Point / Kate Rigby


Reviewed by: Keith Nixon

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Approximate word count: 30-35,000 words

Availability    
Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: YES  Smashwords: YES  Paper: NO
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

Kate Rigby studied psychology although she is no longer able to work due to ill health. She has been writing for more than thirty years producing fourteen novels and short stories. Most of her works have been published over this time.

You can learn more about the author on her blog and more about her books on her website.

Description:

It’s June 1999 and Wimbledon is about to get underway. Robina, recently out of a long term relationship and looking for a new path in life takes a job as the carer for Gwen, a largely housebound old lady. As Robina learns more about Gwen she has more questions than answers, in particular what happened to her daughter Rosemary?

Appraisal:

Kate Rigby writes with an unconventional style. This is not a complaint, merely an observation. Some readers will appreciate it, others I guess will not. Thankfully, I sit in the former camp. Rigby writes with a local vernacular in punchy terms. It adds layer and depth to the first person narrative.

I’ve previously reviewed Flamingo Circus, which was, in effect, a coming of age diary that occurred over several years. However in Break Point we have quite a different beast. It is fundamentally an exploration of relationships – between Robina and a variety of people. Gwen (the eventually overbearing woman she’s caring for with her own secret), June (the ex-girlfriend we never meet), Tash (the person who split June and Robina up) and Elliot (her brother). Finally throw Shari, provocative colleague exploring her sexuality, into the mix and there’s a slow-burn melting pot of emotions.

Interestingly the story takes place with the back drop of the Wimbledon tennis tournament. The author draws parallels between events and the particular game / players on at the time. As the finals near, the events wind to a crescendo and a neat little twist.

Overall an enjoyable read.

Format/Typo Issues:

None to speak of.


Rating: **** Four Stars

No comments: