Make them look. Words whispered into Bernie Moon’s ear by a magician’s assistant when she was a child, but Bernie hasn’t felt any magic for a very long time. Now middle-aged, Bernie Ingram is living a dreary, invisible existence. Entering menopause, working part-time in a bookshop, and withered relationships with her husband, son, mother, and childhood best friend.
But when a female jogger is murdered in a local park, the inevitable victim blaming and misogyny that follows – what was she doing out alone? – sparks something. A simmering rage reignites Bernie’s childhood ability to ‘see’ into the inner lives of others. And manipulate them. Meanwhile, Bernie’s remaking herself, thanks to a young woman she saves, and new friends. But will her efforts to ‘help’ weak and wicked men see the error of their ways backfire? Will her powers have deadly consequences, yet again?
Bestselling Anglo-French author Joanne Harris (Chocolat) offers readers a truly unique tale in Broken Light, a fascinating, page-turning thriller crackling with female rage. Told in mesmerising fashion through twin narratives following Bernie and the recollections of her childhood friend Kate, this is a thought-provoking, anger-inducing, brilliant novel. It feels both timely and timeless, and may linger long in your thoughts after the final page.
Reviewed by Craig Sisterson
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joanne Harris studied Modern and Mediaeval Languages at Cambridge and was a teacher for 15 years, during which time she published three novels, including Chocolat (1999), which was made into an Oscar-nominated film. She has since written 19 more novels, and other works.
0 Comments