Review of Duplicity
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Cátia Rato
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Review of Duplicity
[Following is a volunteer review of "Duplicity" by Fin C Gray.]
Duplicity is the debut novel of Fin C. Gray, and I dare to say it might be the best debut novel I have ever read. Embrace yourself because when you pick this one up, you won't be able to put it down.
The plot follows the McIntyre family, focused on Tom and Daniel, father and son. Seemingly a usual family, Tom pursues a lifetime opportunity to make sure money stops being a problem while trying to keep his marriage awash. When the perfect deal appears, Tom's floor disappears from under his feet as terrible news surge. Daniel, feeling betrayed by his father, starts to display erratic behavior. Could this be a foretell for a tragic ending?
Gray guides us through his plot in three different perspectives: Tom's, Daniel's, and the front desk employees' of Tom's building. Tom and Daniel are very complex characters with a depth not seen in many novels. Tom strikes me as a person that, ultimately, tries to give his best for the ones he loves but at the same time is very focused on himself, with continuous bursts of uncontrolled anger and instantaneous regret afterward. On the other hand, Daniel starts as a great kid that begins feeling lost and used. Trying to find salvation in an unexpected love, he ends up way over his head, and all the darkness that he had been hiding over the years gets loose. I have to highlight Vince from the front desk because he was probably the only down-to-earth character in the middle of this book.
The plot is not about heroes and villains. The characters are deeply flawed human beings trying to make the best choices for themselves. Eventually, decisions are made and can't be taken back, and the characters deal with them the best way they can, even if that means embracing evil. The author describes the line of thinking of these complex characters in a marvelous way. We see the reasoning behind every decision made, and more than that, understand how these characters feel in the most hidden corners of their soul. The writing style is so good that the reader feels what these characters feel. The happiness, the love, the desperation, the anger, everything jumps from the paper into the reader.
In this sense, Duplicity is like no other book that I can remember. The words beg you to be felt, and that is no easy task for an author to do. Even more an author with his debut novel. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster of feelings through every single page. The book also appears to be professionally edited.
However, I don't recommend this book to people with a weak stomach. It fits the crime and thriller genre, but it also might be considered appealing for those interested in psychology. The descriptions of some events can be very graphic and very difficult to read through. The plot also discusses themes like rape, suicide, and cancer, which might trigger some readers. Because the writing style is so good, you will feel much more during these parts of the plot than in other books.
Considering everything mentioned before, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Another thing very well achieved was the exchange between past and present events. In some books the transition between these perspectives is very hard to follow, but not in this one.
A brilliantly written debut novel, that will surprise every reader.
******
Duplicity
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Duplicity is the debut novel of Fin C. Gray, and I dare to say it might be the best debut novel I have ever read. Embrace yourself because when you pick this one up, you won't be able to put it down.
The plot follows the McIntyre family, focused on Tom and Daniel, father and son. Seemingly a usual family, Tom pursues a lifetime opportunity to make sure money stops being a problem while trying to keep his marriage awash. When the perfect deal appears, Tom's floor disappears from under his feet as terrible news surge. Daniel, feeling betrayed by his father, starts to display erratic behavior. Could this be a foretell for a tragic ending?
Gray guides us through his plot in three different perspectives: Tom's, Daniel's, and the front desk employees' of Tom's building. Tom and Daniel are very complex characters with a depth not seen in many novels. Tom strikes me as a person that, ultimately, tries to give his best for the ones he loves but at the same time is very focused on himself, with continuous bursts of uncontrolled anger and instantaneous regret afterward. On the other hand, Daniel starts as a great kid that begins feeling lost and used. Trying to find salvation in an unexpected love, he ends up way over his head, and all the darkness that he had been hiding over the years gets loose. I have to highlight Vince from the front desk because he was probably the only down-to-earth character in the middle of this book.
The plot is not about heroes and villains. The characters are deeply flawed human beings trying to make the best choices for themselves. Eventually, decisions are made and can't be taken back, and the characters deal with them the best way they can, even if that means embracing evil. The author describes the line of thinking of these complex characters in a marvelous way. We see the reasoning behind every decision made, and more than that, understand how these characters feel in the most hidden corners of their soul. The writing style is so good that the reader feels what these characters feel. The happiness, the love, the desperation, the anger, everything jumps from the paper into the reader.
In this sense, Duplicity is like no other book that I can remember. The words beg you to be felt, and that is no easy task for an author to do. Even more an author with his debut novel. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster of feelings through every single page. The book also appears to be professionally edited.
However, I don't recommend this book to people with a weak stomach. It fits the crime and thriller genre, but it also might be considered appealing for those interested in psychology. The descriptions of some events can be very graphic and very difficult to read through. The plot also discusses themes like rape, suicide, and cancer, which might trigger some readers. Because the writing style is so good, you will feel much more during these parts of the plot than in other books.
Considering everything mentioned before, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Another thing very well achieved was the exchange between past and present events. In some books the transition between these perspectives is very hard to follow, but not in this one.
A brilliantly written debut novel, that will surprise every reader.
******
Duplicity
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Inmate by Alan P. Woodruff
