Let’s get one thing straight.
This. Is. An. Amazing. Book.
The story grabbed me from the very beginning and did not let me go until the very last word. I cannot remember the last time a book had me so enthralled.
It is apparent right away that there is much more to Evelyn Taylor-Clarke (Mrs. T-C to the workers at the home she resides in) than meets the eye. From the moment that she fills in her first crossword puzzle, the reader knows that she has led a fascinating life.
The book has eleven “Parts,” with each section describing a segment of Mrs. T-C’s life. The chapters within the parts alternate between letters to her husband and the action taking place at the time. The time-shifting jumps around quite a bit; it is not entirely linear. But the author treats this with a deft hand, and I never felt lost. It made the reading that much more interesting because the events sometimes alluded to the letters and vice versa. It was a smart way to keep the narrative focused.
As Mrs. T-C’s secrets reveal themselves, the reader also learns that revenge is a motivator, both on a personal scale for her and a national level post-WWII. There are well-drawn parallels that bring emotion to the forefront of the story.
Ultimately, however, hers is a story of a life full of secrets, told in memories, and perfectly honed to the way she wants it told. Reading her perspective, and knowing her inner thoughts, gave me great respect for the life that she led. I love that the author made me feel that deeply about a character.
There were even a few twists that I did not see coming, which made me appreciate the craftsmanship of the plot even more. Additionally, the author does a fantastic job of relating some of the unspoken horrors of post-WWII life. I’m not going to elaborate, but I guarantee at least one of them is something you probably never considered. I’ve studied that era extensively, and it had never crossed my mind.
In case you couldn’t tell (and if the second line of this review wasn’t clear enough), this is an incredible book, and you do NOT want to miss it.
My Name is Eva by Suzanne GoldringMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Make no mistake; this is a stellar read! From the thoroughly realistic characters (including the mysterious main character and her real jerk of a niece) to the intricate plot, I loved everything about it. I especially liked how Evelyn (Evie/Eva) was a master of manipulation. She was one of the most intriguing characters I have ever “met.” Do yourself a huge favor and pick this one up. For a full review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for a complimentary, pre-release digital ARC of the book.
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Following an eventful career as a public relations consultant, specialising in business and travel, Suzanne Goldring turned to writing the kind of novels she likes to read, about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. Two of her novels have been placed in the Winchester Writers’ Conference First Three Pages of a Novel competition. Her novel, The Way We Lied, can be read as a serial on her blog site, suzannegoldring.wordpress.com. She is currently working on a novel about delusion, deception, and death, set in Corfu.
Suzanne drew on her experiences of living in a timbered 14th-century house, where she raised two daughters and a variety of livestock, to write Powerless. All her other novels are pure fiction and any resemblance to any persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
- Twitter: @SuzanneGoldring
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzannegoldringauthor/
