Monday, January 25, 2016

The Hours Before

The Hours Before by Robert Stephen Parry
  • Paperback: 422 pages  
  • Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (March 2, 2015)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 150852422X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1508524229

The Blurb ...

In darkness, late at night, a woman returns to her hotel to discover her usual maid has been replaced by a stranger. What begins as an icy exchange, born of weariness, becomes within minutes one of the most extraordinary encounters of her life. It will take her on a journey deep into her past and towards the fateful assignation that already awaits her on the other side of the night. Set amid the elegance and sophistication of the Belle Époque, and the Gothic splendour of late Victorian England, ‘The Hours Before’ is a story of drama, mystery and romance, revealing a hidden world of vice and malevolence – but also a pathway of transformation and knowledge.

****
Robert is a gifted writer. The amount of detail that is put into his books is unbelievable. The text flows nicely and it's easy to understand. There are times though that I catch myself skimming through for dialogue because there is so much to read. This book in particular was a very long, exhaustive read for me. I did however enjoy the atmosphere and time period of it. It was well researched and the characters were likable. My heart was breaking for Deborah as she searched for her daughter. I admired her strength and courage. There were some unexpected twists that grabbed my attention and I enjoyed the ending. I have read all of Robert's books. They are flawless. :)