Jacqueline T. Lynch

An intriguing and a refreshing change, a novel about time travel both from the future and into the past.

When John Moore wins the contest to be the subject of the trial he is transported back into the time of Boudicca. Whilst he is on his mission a stranger appears in the research facility which sent John on his mission but who is she? And what is her role ?

The author has shown a lot of research throughout the story, the descriptions of how the people lived, traveled and most of all survived is first rate .

Whilst John Moore is on his mission the emotions and stress that are felt back in the lab, as well as the tension between the researchers and the directors on the outcome of the mission which will affect future funding, is excellent and truly believable.

The narrative is fast paced, full of excitement and adventure, which keeps the reader enrapt .

As John Moore is transported back in time the excellent descriptions make you feel that you are sat right beside him taking everything on board and traveling alongside him on his journey .

The characters that he meets are brought to life excellently and the roles and status that their hold in their lifetime are accurately portrayed .

This is the second book that I have read by this particularly author, both being totally different but the author style of writing involves and hooks the reader from page one.… (mehr)

When I started reading this novel I couldn't put it down, the author's style of writing and descriptions used throughout had me hooked.

When his town is suffering from lack of tourism Everett Campbell comes up with the idea of asking the towns folk to act and dress as if it is 1904. When they all agree it attracts the attention of the media and new business as well as an offer from a theme park company to buy the whole town and employ all of them is the answer to all their problems.

The authors real skill in this story is bringing all of the characters to life and you can envisage yourself there watching it all happening before you. The struggle of Everett can be seen in your own life, as he struggles to build a relationship with his teenage son, tries to keep his young daughter's wishes alive whilst maintaining a healthy marriage.

The exploits, discussions and scheming which appears throughout the novel will make you smile, feel despair and most of all contemplate 'is change really a good idea'.

Even though this is a work of fiction I believe that somewhere along the line small communities who have been meandering along in their own manner and customs, have had their lives improved by corporate companies, for their own gain, which gives the story a certain truth.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I will certainly be looking out for more of her novels from now on.… (mehr)

All Juliet van Allen, aka Mrs. McLeod, wanted to do was go home early to make love with her husband. Instead, she wound up with a dead, adulterous spouse, an ex convict as her new chauffeur, strange men climbing through her ventilation system, and a detective convinced that she's a murderess. To top it off, most of the happenings are printed in the paper each day, courtesy of an ethically-unbound reporter. Simmer, stir, and let the plot thicken.

Cadmium Yellow, Blood Red sets up a deceptively simple scenario: a murder, a museum heist, and the intersection of two very disparate lives. It is this overlap, however, that brings the story to life and lends it more interest than a relatively rudimentary whodunnit might warrant. As a heroine, Juliet successfully blends "damsel in distress" with "independent businesswoman," sidestepping the wealthy heiress trope that could easily have flattened her into a caricature of a character. Even more enjoyable, however, is the way in which Elmer Vartanian is fleshed out. He is neither brash knight nor tortured hero; rather, he comes across as a decent man trying to piece together a good life for his family. His attempts to find his daughter and circumvent the fate laid before him were what kept me turning pages (or flipping Kindle screens, as it were).

The pacing of the writing in this novel is a comfortable combination of action and conversation, with just enough detail to set the mood or to present an obvious, albeit effective, metaphor. Various bits of history, specifically art history, stimulate the reader's mind and lend some credibility to Juliet's position as museum curator. In short, as a vehicle for storytelling, it does quite well for itself. Unfortunately, the second half of the book contains a multitude of typographical and grammatical errors that detract from the overall experience of catching killers and thwarting nefarious plots. Further editing is warranted.

Story-wise, Cadmium Yellow, Blood Red is a fairly neat package from beginning to end. For those looking for a relatively quick read, that may work out just fine. Personally, I would have preferred a lengthier story, perhaps with more red herrings and meaningful interactions with the appropriately named Rattinger; the search for Kurt's killer was far more straightforward than I'd imagined. From what I can tell, however, the murder mystery was not intended to take center stage in this book; if anything, it's a convenient backdrop for both Juliet and Elmer to widen their horizons.

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(Review copy provided by the author)… (mehr)