MARGARET
MURPHY - 'WEAVING SHADOWS'
New English Library 2004.
ISBN: 0-340-82055-1
Weaving Shadows
In Weaving
Shadows, Merseyside author Margaret Murphy has encapsulated
perfectly everything good about the British Crime genre, today.
Her central character, Clara Pascal, a prominent barrister recovering
slowly from her past experiences, is led to believe that she's taking
on an every-day child custody case. Clara is finding life difficult and
struggles to keep the events of the recent past from affecting her friends,
family and work. But sleep is growing ever more difficult to come by,
as the shadows of her trauma continue to plague her nighttimes.
Then - courtesy of her friend and employer
- she finds herself thrown back into taking on a criminal case she wants
nothing to do with. Her client is Ian Clemence, a convicted and brutal
murderer who is now the prime suspect in the death of one of his former
lecturers. But once she is forced into starting her research, why is
it that Clara - despite her misgivings - begins to believe that Clemence
is innocent of the crimes with which he being linked?
Margaret Murphy is clinical in her prose and tantalising in her
description. She writes in a style that makes - begs, almost - the reader
to turn the pages so as to see what happens next, by making every word
count. Her characters are 'real' and their situations convincing. Read
the section where the victim is discovered and you'll realise that you
know everything you need to about the discoverer, inside of five lines
of meeting them. Such is the ability of the author.
As a sequel it works brilliantly, but that does not mean to say that
its predecessor - Darkness
Falls - needs to be read so as to be able to follow this story.
The world of Crime fiction has moved on from Holmes and Frost and Morse.
Devotees of this genre are demanding a more informed better-researched
crime novel and Margaret Murphy certainly does not disappoint
in this respect. The complex storyline is deftly handled, precise, and
above all, unpredictable, which makes her ability to enthral even more
powerful. The plot ducks and dives, twists and turns on every page,
but never in a confusing or confused manner and is a story which climaxes
in a way that can only amaze.
As fellow author Mo Hayder has said: "Margaret Murphy is
just what British crime writing has been waiting for."
Margaret Murphy's latest novel - 'The Dispossessed' -
is currently available in hard back. It is due for release in paperback
on July 4th, 2005.
Order this book online - Linghams
Booksellers
www.margaretmurphy.co.uk
“I've
just read your review of Weaving Shadows.
Wow! Thank you. I'm... I'm speechless. Well, almost
You've
done a terrific job of tantalising the prospective reader without giving
away any crucial elements of the plot. Which isn't always the case...
I like the links you've set up - clever, and helpful - thanks. And you've
been so very kind. I'm actually blushing.”
Margaret
Murphy - April
2005
break the rules as I see fit.” - Chris High 2003.