Title: THE FRAGMENTS
Expected publication: 10 September 2019 in US and CA, available in Australia now
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 all the stars!
Book Description:
INGA Karlson died in a fire in New York in the 1930s,
leaving behind three things: a phenomenally successful first novel, the
scorched fragments of a second book— and a mystery that has captivated
generations of readers.
Nearly fifty years later, Brisbane bookseller Caddie Walker is waiting in line to see a Karlson exhibition featuring the famous fragments when she meets a charismatic older woman.
The woman quotes a phrase from the Karlson fragments that Caddie knows does not exist—and yet to Caddie, who knows Inga Karlson’s work like she knows her name, it feels genuine.
Caddie is electrified. Jolted her from her sleepy, no-worries life in torpid 1980s Brisbane, she is driven to investigate: to find the clues that will unlock the greatest literary mystery of the twentieth century.
Nearly fifty years later, Brisbane bookseller Caddie Walker is waiting in line to see a Karlson exhibition featuring the famous fragments when she meets a charismatic older woman.
The woman quotes a phrase from the Karlson fragments that Caddie knows does not exist—and yet to Caddie, who knows Inga Karlson’s work like she knows her name, it feels genuine.
Caddie is electrified. Jolted her from her sleepy, no-worries life in torpid 1980s Brisbane, she is driven to investigate: to find the clues that will unlock the greatest literary mystery of the twentieth century.
My musings:
What an unexpected gem this book turned out to be! It
contained a bit of everything I enjoy – a compelling mystery, an atmospheric
setting, interesting historical elements, two enigmatic female protagonists and
just a slight smattering of romance. And what book lover doesn’t like reading
about a mystery surrounding an old classic book and famous author?
Caddie, a bookseller living in a shared flat in 1980s
Brisbane is drawn into an age old mystery when she encounters a mysterious old
woman at an exhibition featuring the “fragments”, charred pieces of an old
manuscript written by famous writer Inga
Karlson, who perished in a terrible warehouse fire in New York in 1939. Caddie
has long been a fan of Karlson’s writing, an obsession passed on to her by her
dead father, and she is intrigued by the woman’s intimate knowledge of the
story contained in the few pages that survived the fire. Is it possible that
this mysterious stranger had read the manuscript before it was destroyed? Never
one daunted by a mystery, Caddie sets out to make enquiries with some old
university contacts, finding that countless academics have tried and failed to
solve the mystery of Karlson’s death and her lost manuscript. But sometimes a
new pair of eyes can see things that others have missed, and Caddie is sure
that the mystery woman may have some answers – if only she can find her again.
I read and loved Toni Jordan’s first book ADDITION a few years ago, and although her writing
style in THE FRAGMENTS is very different, as befits the story and the
characters, I was immediately hooked from the moment Caddie meets Rachel on the
steps of the museum. It is rare to find a book that unfolds in two different
time periods and through two separate POVs and yet be equally drawn to both
lead characters and story lines. It must be one of the most difficult things to
achieve for an author, and yet Jordan has mastered this wonderfully here. I was
so fully invested in both women’s lives that the changing POVs did just what
they had intended – ratchet up tension and suspense – rather than favouring one
character over the other.
I love books that feature historical mysteries, especially
ones that slowly unfold through investigations into the past by a protagonist living
in the present, complete with the real-life frustrations and hurdles they
encounter along the way. Maybe stemming from a time I had a job that involved
research, which always resembles a treasure hunt of sorts, every unearthing of
a new clue a minor triumph. Seeing that Caddie’s POV pre-dates the internet era,
Caddie does a lot of old-style investigating, which for me added extra depth
and intrigue to the story. We also have the bonus of getting glimpses into the
time-period Caddie is investigating through the life of yet another feisty and
enigmatic female protagonist, Rachel, whose life story will ultimately hold all
the answers Caddieis looking for.
Jordan’s writing flows effortlessly, all pieces falling into
place seamlessly, and she paints the setting so well that it almost felt like
time travel into 1930s New York, which I loved. It’s almost impossible to
categorise this book, as it contains so many elements, perfectly balanced to
create a compelling and unforgettable story. And of course there is also one of
my favourite elements in fiction – the “book inside a book” concept, as we get
tastes of excerpts from Karlson’s famous novels.
Summary:
THE FRAGMENTS is Australian fiction at its best. I loved
every minute of it, and as the tension increased towards the end of the book I
found it almost impossible to tear myself away – I may have even held my breath
a few times as the story raced towards its heart pounding finale. Both readers
of mysteries and historical fiction should enjoy this one, and if you are also
a book lover you will be intrigued by this wonderful story that spans several
decades and takes us from one side of the world to another in the pursuit of
answers. Very highly recommended!
Thank
you to Edelweiss and Text Publishing for the free electronic copy of this novel and
for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
I loved this one too! A real treatto read. So atmospheric.
ReplyDeleteIt really was! Thanks so much for stopping by :)
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