Review of Duplicity
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Michelle Menezes
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Review of Duplicity
[Following is a volunteer review of "Duplicity" by Fin C Gray.]
The idiom, "Be careful what you wish for," is one we're all familiar with and quite often used as a warning. Tom is tired of his life and wishes to be free of his wife and kids. Little did he know that the words he said at a moment of frustration would end up becoming true. When his wife, Alison, is diagnosed with cancer, his whole life starts crumbling. After her death, he turns to alcohol to numb the pain. His son hates him, but he doesn't know why, and guilt is his only companion.
Meanwhile, Daniel is traumatized by a childhood incident. His mother's death and father's secret adds to his suffering and hatred. When he meets Waqar, he believes he has finally found someone to love, but his need for human connection takes him on a dangerous path towards terrorism. Will Tom and Daniel be able to resolve their issues, or will the hate fester and lead to disastrous consequences?
Duplicity by Fin C. Gray is a heartbreaking story revolving around many sensitive topics. It includes alcohol and substance abuse, cancer, homosexuality, child sexual assault, animal cruelty, violence, and terrorism. It was one of the most difficult reads for me; at the same time, I couldn't put the book down because of the beautiful writing. The author has tried to sensitize readers towards these issues and create awareness regarding mental health.
There were times when I had to keep the book aside, as I was feeling overwhelmed due to certain scenes. I was so engrossed in the story that after a point, I couldn't differentiate between fiction and reality and felt like I was experiencing every emotion along with the characters. The book alternated between the past and the present, and it gave an insight into the characters' lives, their behavior and personality, the reason they acted a certain way, and their current circumstances.
The characters were flawed and made terrible decisions, but that's what made them realistic. One minute I felt angry, and the next minute I pitied them. It was an emotional rollercoaster. Throughout the book, I kept asking myself, "what if?" What if Tom hadn't turned to alcohol and neglected his children? What if Daniel hadn't experienced the horrible incident during his childhood? What if Daniel had given his father a chance to explain his side of the story?
I was a bit worried about the terrorism aspect of the book. It goes into detail about how a person gets brainwashed into becoming a suicide bomber. I felt that Muslim people would probably find it offensive due to the mention of Islam and Allah. I believe that the author's intention is not to paint the religion in a negative light but to show that there are people who manipulate others into committing atrocities in the name of Islam, thus giving it a bad name.
I did not find anything to dislike in the book. I feel like I didn't read the book but experienced it. The descriptive writing fueled my imagination, and the fast pace prevented me from getting distracted. For this reason, I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. I found a few minor errors, but they did not affect the flow of the story. Since this book is full of triggering topics that I have mentioned above, I would recommend it to readers above 18 years of age who do not get bothered by the triggers. People who enjoy thrillers can give it a try, but I would suggest keeping an open mind while reading it.
******
Duplicity
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The idiom, "Be careful what you wish for," is one we're all familiar with and quite often used as a warning. Tom is tired of his life and wishes to be free of his wife and kids. Little did he know that the words he said at a moment of frustration would end up becoming true. When his wife, Alison, is diagnosed with cancer, his whole life starts crumbling. After her death, he turns to alcohol to numb the pain. His son hates him, but he doesn't know why, and guilt is his only companion.
Meanwhile, Daniel is traumatized by a childhood incident. His mother's death and father's secret adds to his suffering and hatred. When he meets Waqar, he believes he has finally found someone to love, but his need for human connection takes him on a dangerous path towards terrorism. Will Tom and Daniel be able to resolve their issues, or will the hate fester and lead to disastrous consequences?
Duplicity by Fin C. Gray is a heartbreaking story revolving around many sensitive topics. It includes alcohol and substance abuse, cancer, homosexuality, child sexual assault, animal cruelty, violence, and terrorism. It was one of the most difficult reads for me; at the same time, I couldn't put the book down because of the beautiful writing. The author has tried to sensitize readers towards these issues and create awareness regarding mental health.
There were times when I had to keep the book aside, as I was feeling overwhelmed due to certain scenes. I was so engrossed in the story that after a point, I couldn't differentiate between fiction and reality and felt like I was experiencing every emotion along with the characters. The book alternated between the past and the present, and it gave an insight into the characters' lives, their behavior and personality, the reason they acted a certain way, and their current circumstances.
The characters were flawed and made terrible decisions, but that's what made them realistic. One minute I felt angry, and the next minute I pitied them. It was an emotional rollercoaster. Throughout the book, I kept asking myself, "what if?" What if Tom hadn't turned to alcohol and neglected his children? What if Daniel hadn't experienced the horrible incident during his childhood? What if Daniel had given his father a chance to explain his side of the story?
I was a bit worried about the terrorism aspect of the book. It goes into detail about how a person gets brainwashed into becoming a suicide bomber. I felt that Muslim people would probably find it offensive due to the mention of Islam and Allah. I believe that the author's intention is not to paint the religion in a negative light but to show that there are people who manipulate others into committing atrocities in the name of Islam, thus giving it a bad name.
I did not find anything to dislike in the book. I feel like I didn't read the book but experienced it. The descriptive writing fueled my imagination, and the fast pace prevented me from getting distracted. For this reason, I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. I found a few minor errors, but they did not affect the flow of the story. Since this book is full of triggering topics that I have mentioned above, I would recommend it to readers above 18 years of age who do not get bothered by the triggers. People who enjoy thrillers can give it a try, but I would suggest keeping an open mind while reading it.
******
Duplicity
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Legacy of Job's Wife by Cynthia Koelker
