A gripping novel exploring the painful complexities of the reactions of two people to the ending of a ten-year relationship.

Nofel afaelgar yn archwilio cymhlethdodau poenus ymatebion dau berson i derfynu carwriaeth deng mlynedd.

This is the fifth novel by Roger Granelli which I have read with pleasure. His first, Dark Edge, was set against the background of the miners’ strike of 1984, while Crystal Spirit was the story of a young volunteer who goes to Spain to fight against Franco.

I think his latest book is his best so far. The basic story-line has to do with the stormy relationship between a painter/musician and the woman who once loved him. Much of the narrative is pretty grim and we are not spared the more unpalatable aspects of a failed love-affair. Love and hate, friendship and passion, go hand in hand, though it is fear that eventually destroys the fragile balance, at least on the woman’s part and sheer bloody-mindedness on the man’s.

The big question that the novel posits is whether stability can ever be found in a world that is sometimes as inconstant as the human heart, and the answer is probably no, or at least not very often, or perhaps don’t bother thinking about it because love is a chimera and people in love tend to get hurt.

The story, set somewhere in south Wales soon after the millenium, is told by two narrators, Rob and Cath. The writer manages to make their voices convincing and dramatic as each relates the events that lead to the climax of their affair when Rob, deranged by a sense of betrayal and jealousy, and violent with it, starts wielding an axe and is stabbed to death by a pair of scissors. Much of the dialogue is interior and even the spoken parts do not have speech-marks, which makes for an intensity that is sometimes quite over-powering.

I don’t think this novel has any pretensions to great literary merit, but it is definitely a page-turner and quite enjoyable.

Meic Stephens

It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgement should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council.

Gellir defnyddio’r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ai www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatad Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.