Sarah Sky

This review first appeared on criminolly.wordpress.com. I received a free copy of this book to review.

‘The Colour of Bee Larkham’s Murder’ might not be a book that’s going to leap off the shelves as a must buy for crime fans, but it’s definitely one that I’d recommend to anyone who likes a good mystery. First and foremost it’s a moving and fascinating novel about autism and synaesthesia (the neurological condition that results in a joining or merging of senses that aren't normally connected), but the whodunnit element is ever present and very skilfully handled.
It tells the story of Jasper, a thirteen year old boy who sees sounds as colours and is unable to distinguish human faces. When one of his neighbours and friends, Bee Larkham, is murdered, Jasper is pulled into the investigation. What follows is a gradual unveiling of what has led up to the crime, as well as a sensitive examination autism and synaesthesia.
Jasper is a great protagonist: sympathetic, fascinating and a convincingly and engagingly unreliable narrator. His unique take on the world means that past events take on different meanings as he replays them, a trait that works perfectly in a mystery novel. On paper his age and condition might make him sound like a victim, but in reality he is anything but. In fact he shares many of the characteristics of great detectives like Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot - an obsession with the collection of evidence, a rigidly logical mind and a relentless drive to uncover the truth. There is even a wonderfully Poirot-like “assembling of the evidence” scene towards the end of the book which I thought worked brilliantly.
The tick tock approach of interspersing chapters of present day narrative with flashbacks is a very common one nowadays, but author Sarah J Harris uses it to good effect here. Jasper’s replaying of past events in the light of Bee’s death works on two levels - it progresses the plot and our understanding of the mystery in an engaging way, and it brings the boy hero’s character to life. As the events of recent weeks are laid out, the tension builds brilliantly as the relationship between Bee, Jasper and another boy at his school, Lucas, comes into focus.
This is a book as much about people as it is about plot. Jasper is definitely its heart, but around him are a cast of other characters who are just as believable. His father, Bee, Lucas, the neighbours on the street and the police investigating the case. All come together to create a convincing community that we meet through Jasper’s eyes. Like many great crime novels, in the end the events of the distant past have as much bearing on things as more recent ones. As the plot develops so does our understanding of the characters and their motivations, making for a rich, mature and satisfying mystery.
This is Sarah J Harris’ debut novel for adults and there is a great deal to like about it. It’s readable without always being easy reading, gripping and complex without being overly complicated, and funny and moving in equal measure. Whilst it isn’t a traditional crime novel, ‘The Colour of Bee Larkham’s Murder’ is a novel with enough mystery to delight crime fans and enough of everything else to please readers who don’t normally enjoy the genre. I enjoyed every page and am keen to see what Harris does next.
… (plus d'informations)

Jodie and Simon are twenty-something people who meet at a fast-food restaurant in London as they take on minimum wage soul-destroying jobs. Jodie is a single mother, devoted to her son but trying to escape the vicious circle of poverty that has dogged her through a childhood in care and an abusive relationship, she has ambitions to study at Cambridge. Simon is a mathematical genius whose life work is to solve complex hypotheses, a former child prodigy he has spiralled into obsessive behaviour following a difficult upbringing. These two unlikely characters form a strange friendship which helps both of them confront their demons.
I absolutely loved this book which surprised me as it is a genre that I find to glib in most cases. In common with Harris' first novel, society and mental illness are to the fore and handled extremely well. The descriptions of the life led by the two main characters is realistic - mouldy bedsits, payday loans, minimum wage jobs - and the supporting cast are well-rounded. The 'twists' at the end for both characters were totally expected but that didn't stop this being a really good read which hit home emotionally.… (plus d'informations)

Meet Jodie and Simon. Both of them had a difficult childhood and adulthood hasn't proved that great either. Maybe meeting each other by chance will be the start of better times for them.

Jodie grew up in care. Now she has a son of her own, Zak, and all she wants is to make a better life for the two of them. A job at Prince Burger fast food restaurant isn't quite what she had in mind but it's a step towards fulfilling her dreams. Simon is a bona fide genius. He was one of those kids who was sitting his exams way before the other children but at what price? He's now working at Prince Burger and that's where he and Jodie meet.

From there it's just the most wonderful story of friendship, admittedly after a few misunderstandings, between these two most loveable characters. Simon is so quirky and unusual, a man who is unable to deal with people and doesn't understand their emotions and nuances, but he is an absolutely fantastic creation. As the story progressed so much about him became clear and I just loved him even more. Jodie is brilliant too, a fighter and a great mum to the very delightful Zak. The book very much revolves around these three and the characterisations are perfectly executed. I also thought that the author did such a good job at letting their back stories unfold and showing how their childhood experiences had shaped them as adults. The plot itself is so effective and the writing is appealing.

One Ordinary Day at a Time is so heart-warming and so uplifting. I loved the fact that it was about friendship over anything else, and the tightening of bonds between Simon and Jodie. There were laughs and tears, hoorays and "oh no"s. It's an all-round magnificent read and one that is most definitely extraordinary rather than ordinary. I loved it.… (plus d'informations)