Review by cococarre -- Shifting Sands by Barry Litherland
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- Latest Review: Shifting Sands by Barry Litherland
Review by cococarre -- Shifting Sands by Barry Litherland
[Following is a volunteer review of "Shifting Sands" by Barry Litherland.]
In Barry Litherland’s Shifting Sands, village journalist Phil Tyler gets an odd lead from a petty thief: a nude man, dazed and covered in medical electrodes, wanders down a back road in search of a woman named Bunny. Despite the shaky reliability of the story, Phil becomes suspicious when no one reports the man to the police or seems to be looking for him. When his search leads him to a shadowy psychiatric clinic and two frightened people affected by its practices, he stumbles into a large-scale scheme that leaves him altered forever.
One of the most charming aspects of Litherland’s novel is his depiction of normalcy in a fresh and dimensional way. Many mystery novelists write dramatic, Hollywood clichéd plots, characters, and settings. As a fan of the genre, it’s disappointing to read yet another thriller about a serial killer who targets the family of a detective, or about a freelance writer who can beat four mercenaries in a fistfight somehow. But in Shifting Sands, the characters are so believable and developed that it’s impossible not to think of an old friend, acquaintance, or family member while reading about them.
Litherland is also not afraid to let his characters fail or get hurt. Phil Tyler is a normal person who gets himself into danger, in large part because he doesn’t want to get in trouble with his boss. He dreads awkward social situations, like many of us would, and actually reacts with credible fear and hesitation when in peril. It’s his commitment to do the right thing, and to stand up for underdogs, that give him the courage to keep investigating and eventually solve the enigma at the core of the book. The supporting characters have similar endearing qualities, as well as flaws that are often entertaining. The narration and dialogue possess a dry British wit that made me chuckle out loud several times while reading.
To an American reader, the cheekiness and humor are charming additions to a plot that develops into a satisfying yet disquieting ending. After being drawn in by curiosity in the beginning, the turns in the story and its eventual conclusion threw me for a loop; I often guess plot twists but the end of Shifting Sands is more original and thought-provoking than many mysteries. The pacing throughout the novel also never feels rushed or too slow.
I couldn’t find anything at fault with this novel, and enjoyed reading it so much that I would gladly recommend it to friends who enjoy the genre. For that reason, I rate it 4 out of 4 stars without hesitation.
******
Shifting Sands
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
In Barry Litherland’s Shifting Sands, village journalist Phil Tyler gets an odd lead from a petty thief: a nude man, dazed and covered in medical electrodes, wanders down a back road in search of a woman named Bunny. Despite the shaky reliability of the story, Phil becomes suspicious when no one reports the man to the police or seems to be looking for him. When his search leads him to a shadowy psychiatric clinic and two frightened people affected by its practices, he stumbles into a large-scale scheme that leaves him altered forever.
One of the most charming aspects of Litherland’s novel is his depiction of normalcy in a fresh and dimensional way. Many mystery novelists write dramatic, Hollywood clichéd plots, characters, and settings. As a fan of the genre, it’s disappointing to read yet another thriller about a serial killer who targets the family of a detective, or about a freelance writer who can beat four mercenaries in a fistfight somehow. But in Shifting Sands, the characters are so believable and developed that it’s impossible not to think of an old friend, acquaintance, or family member while reading about them.
Litherland is also not afraid to let his characters fail or get hurt. Phil Tyler is a normal person who gets himself into danger, in large part because he doesn’t want to get in trouble with his boss. He dreads awkward social situations, like many of us would, and actually reacts with credible fear and hesitation when in peril. It’s his commitment to do the right thing, and to stand up for underdogs, that give him the courage to keep investigating and eventually solve the enigma at the core of the book. The supporting characters have similar endearing qualities, as well as flaws that are often entertaining. The narration and dialogue possess a dry British wit that made me chuckle out loud several times while reading.
To an American reader, the cheekiness and humor are charming additions to a plot that develops into a satisfying yet disquieting ending. After being drawn in by curiosity in the beginning, the turns in the story and its eventual conclusion threw me for a loop; I often guess plot twists but the end of Shifting Sands is more original and thought-provoking than many mysteries. The pacing throughout the novel also never feels rushed or too slow.
I couldn’t find anything at fault with this novel, and enjoyed reading it so much that I would gladly recommend it to friends who enjoy the genre. For that reason, I rate it 4 out of 4 stars without hesitation.
******
Shifting Sands
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Shifting Sands by Barry Litherland
