Ratings8
Average rating3.3
I had paradoxical reactions to this book. I found the writing somewhat flaccid, but even so, the book was a compelling read, largely because of the period atmosphere and the exotic locations. At the end of the book, I felt cheated, because the massive plot holes were never filled and the story line didn't really make sense.
The ludicrous coincidences are never explained and the plot more or less dissolves into an unsatisfying and illogical mess.
The only way to redeem this story would be if it turns out to be a setup for a sequel that would cleverly resolve the outstanding problems. Short of that, I think the book is not really a complete novel.
Enjoyed early 19th century novel from Boyd. I found it quite comparable to Restless, better than Ordinary Thunderstorms, but slighter and without the weight of Any Human Heart, Brazzaville Beach , or New Confessions.