Awakening
by: S.J. Bolton
Published by: Minotaur Books (June 9 release)
Buy From Amazon.com
Reviewed by Cerri Ellis
S.J. Bolton’s book Awakening tells the story of a reclusive young woman named Clara Benning and the mystery she is determined to solve. A wildlife vet and surgeon in England, Clara is more used to treating hedgehogs, barn owls, and foxes than snakes, but when a neighbor begs her to help rescue her baby from an adder in her daughter’s crib, Clara puts aside her general mistrust and dislike of people, and manages to capture the wayward reptile.
Not long after this, she is asked to give her expert opinion regarding a snakebite case that also took place in her small rural village. The victim died from an adder’s bite. But while the cause of death seems at first rather open and shut, her knowledge of venomous snakes, along with the toxicology report, suggests the death could not be the work of a single adder.
As more snakebite cases swarm in, Clara begins to suspect foul play. Aided by a handsome police constable, and an attractive snake expert with his own wildlife TV show, Clara unravels clues that lead her to a secret cult and a 50-year-old tragic event that may unlock the deadly mystery.
Cozy mysteries usually involve a crime-solving amateur sleuth, often a woman living in a small town or village. Yet as I read S.J. Bolton’s book, I felt a chill crawl along my shoulders…a sense of foreboding that I seldom experience reading cozy mysteries. The atmosphere thickened, adding a gothic feel to the story.
Clara is portrayed with stunning clarity. The characterization is rich, finely detailed, and laced with subtle irony. The title of S.J. Bolton’s novel is very apt on many levels. We see Clara awakening to the beauty within her, an attribute she denies, while we watch the twisted evil in the village reawaken after fifty years of silence.
Awakening is a truly brilliant modern day hybrid—a blend of cozy and horrific thriller readers won’t soon forget.
Armchair Interviews agrees: This is a 5-star read.
Author’s Web site: http://www.SJBolton.com
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