By The Moutain By Luca D’Andrea
- Hardcover: 400 pages
- Publisher: MacLehose Press (30 Nov. 2017)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0857056905
- ISBN-13: 978-0857056900
Review By Kelly
We received an ARC copy from Quercus Books, thank you so much.
Synopsis
Jeremiah Salinger blames himself. The crash was his fault. He was the only survivor. Now the depression and the nightmares are closing in. Only his daughter Clara can put a smile on his face.
But when he takes Clara to the Bletterbach – a canyon in the Dolomites rich in fossil remains – he overhears by chance a conversation that gives his life renewed focus. In 1985 three students were murdered there, their bodies savaged, limbs severed and strewn by a killer who was never found.
Salinger, a New Yorker, is far from home, and these Italian mountains, where his wife was born, harbour a close-knit, tight-lipped community whose mistrust of outsiders can turn ugly. All the same, solving this mystery might be the only thing that can keep him sane.
Translated from the Italian by Howard Curtis
Review
I first started the book in audio format on audible. I couldn’t connect with the narrator and stopped listening and I did go to pick another audio but decided to give The Mountain a chance the old fashioned way and the read the hardback, Thank goodness I did, it would have been a mistake of epic proportions if I hadn’t dived in.
For a debut novel, it’s breathtaking. I’ve never read a book with so many layers.Stories within stories. Don’t get the wrong idea it flows beautifully and it’s not complicated. I didn’t want to take my hardback out and about so I went and purchased the kindle version too. I was emotionally invested and I didn’t want the book to end. I even found myself slowing down and reading it in short bursts trying to consume every little crumb of the divine writing.
When trying to think what was at the very roots of the story I had a hard time because there are so many topics covered. But for me I decided it would be lies, Every lie having a consequence, I think they call it the butterfly effect. One action having a plethora of reactions.
There wasn’t a character that I didn’t like in The Mountain, they each had a story to tell and very distinctive voices. It’s crime fiction with an accent of mild horror threaded through the pages. A book that infuses your brain and leaves you with ghosts and the urge that you want more.
What a fabulous book to read and it definitely made it into my top reads of 2017. I thoroughly recommend adding it to your TBR pile.
A stunning debut that is simply a terrifying whopper of a must read!
You can order your copy here and at other great bookstores.
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How interesting that the audio version didn’t work for you. Was it the voice of the narrator which put you off?
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It was, but this was only a personal preference. I’m sure it would work for many others. I would encourage folks to try the sample first.
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I really struggle with audio books. I just can’t engage with the books so well.
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Sometimes it works for me, I really enjoyed The Gender Game Book 1 on audio. Have you read that series? I think you would like it.
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No I haven’t. I will check it out.
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