Jigsaw Island

Jigsaw Island by Lynne McVernon

· Paperback: 231 pages
· Publisher: Independent Publishing Network (6 July 2020)
· Language: English
· ISBN-10: 1838533435
· ISBN-13: 978-1838533434

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jigsaw-Island-Know-your-friends/dp/1838533435

BLURB

On a holiday escape to the Greek islands, Annie Buchanan discovers what – and then who – is missing from her life… When single mother, Annie, and son Jude take a break away from Scotland to stay with her brother and friends on Symi, they find the warmth and support they need. As they ease into the relaxed rhythm of island life, old and new acquaintances change the course of their vacation. Whether it's for better or worse, Annie will discover when she visits the island of Leros. There she may be able to put together some of the missing pieces in her life and learn who her friends really are. But she cannot be prepared for some uncomfortable truths about the past and the dramatic way in which they will change the present for her... and Jude


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lynne's writing career got off to a precocious start when, aged eight, she was commended for a short story by head teacher, Mr Barker, a success crowned by winning threepence, less than 1p today, for spelling 'sphere'. Thereafter, it all went downhill. At nine, she sent a short story to The Evening Standard. It was rejected. At ten, she entered BBC Children's TV Write A Play competition. Got nowhere. After fifteen years, following art school, university, a trainee directors' bursary, and with a lot of stage sweeping and making tea for actors along the way, she (partially) recognised defeat and became a theatre director, directing a range of plays from Dario Fo to Shakespeare. Still unable to let go of the compulsion to write and, inspired by Mike Leigh, she produced many devised, co-written and self-penned productions. She also taught at drama schools, dramatised 3 Dickens novels for the stage, adapted classics for BBC Radio and founded a young people's creative writing company, Fable Productions. Her first novel, Terrible With Raisins, was self-published in 2013; Jigsaw Island, published 30 June 2020, is her second. Both books were inspired by the endlessly captivating Dodecanese Islands and their people.

Follow Lynne here: http://www.lynnemcvernon.com/ Twitter @lynnemcvernon

My Review

At first, it took me a while to get into this book. However, once Annie arrives in Symi the pace quickens and by the time she's on Leros, I couldn't put this book down. All the seemingly inconsequential events in the first part suddenly make sense and are masterfully brought together in the climax. This book is so well structured and touches on many of the topics that are all too often brushed under the carpet. Just as the Greek islands can easily get under your skin, I have to confess that so has this book. I find myself thinking about Annie weeks later. Inspirational!