Thursday 21 May 2020

The Sandpit by Nicholas Shakespeare


Good morning bookaholics. The sun is shining here in Bonnie Dundee. The perfect type of day to grab a book and read in the garden. Have I got a treat for you today. A Cold War thriller which is happening now. 

This is a brilliant book. Shakespeare is a wordsmith, apparent in every carefully chosen word. The words paint a picture that start off gently, then pull you in to the tight plot. John Dyer, recently returned to Oxford from Brazil, leads a quiet life and looking after his young son. However, a supposedly chance meeting on the sidelines of a football pitch, drags him into a taut game of cat and mouse. Rustam Marvar, an Iranian scientist, tells Dyer about an earth shattering scientific discovery and then disappears. This leads to a story which intrigued and excites in breathtaking measure. The characters are complex and beautifully written, each with their own diverse personalities. I felt as if I knew them personally. In a couple of places there are some scientific explanations which could slow the plot down. However, these are handled well and were interesting. Would I read another book by this author? Very definitely. Would I recommend this one? Unreservedly. A beautifully written book which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I was captivated by this book and the well plotted narrative and genuinely could not stop reading. 
This isn’t out yet my Bookaholic friends but it is definitely one to pre-order. You can do so on Amazon I’ll be back soon with another great review. Until then keep reading. 

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC of this book.