From the start, something ominous hangs over the wedding of Richard and Evelyn. As the story unfolds, the tension between them grows. Richard becomes enchanted with the owner of the hotel they are honeymooning at, which deepens a rift in their relationship. The hotel, Villa Rosa, holds a tragic history – the Sleepwalkers, a couple who died at sea. When a film producer arrives, tensions peak at a dinner party where Richard and Evelyn are forced to re-enact the Sleepwalkers’ story.
The novel weaves together various forms: letters, phone transcripts and lists to create multidimensional characters and suspense. As Evie uncovers hidden truths, a dark secret comes to light at their wedding: Richard date-raped her during their freshman year. The complexity of consent and the weight of unresolved trauma permeate the text.
Through Richard’s reflections, the grey areas of his crime emerge, blurring lines between accountability and the mind of an adolescent who was drugged. His letter reveals his struggle to understand his own actions, questioning whether his drugged state absolves him of guilt. The novel masterfully tackles difficult themes like sexual violence, refugee experiences, and complex human relationships, pushing readers to question the boundaries of morality and justice.
Scarlett Thomas keeps the reader in the dark until the tension boiling point. Each chapter is tightly plotted and innovative in form, making this a novel that’s hard to put down.
Reviewed by Irveen Kaur
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Scarlett Thomas was born in London in 1972. Her widely-acclaimed novels include PopCo, The End of Mr Y and The Seed Collectors. As well as writing literary fiction for adults, she has also written a literary fantasy series for children and a book about writing called Monkeys with Typewriters. Her work has been translated into more than 25 languages.
She has been longlisted for the Orange Prize, shortlisted for the South African Boeke Prize and was once the proud recipient of an Elle Style Award. She is currently Professor of Creative Writing & Contemporary Fiction at the University of Kent in the UK. She lives in a Victorian house near the sea and spends a lot of time reading Chekhov and Katherine Mansfield.
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