Kelly
Written on Oct 27, 2014
A Sudden Light was a brilliant mystery, with a touch of sinister deception and the eerie paranormal. The storyline felt a little stagnant to begin, but soon unraveled a deliciously rich and enigmatic history of both the home, and the Riddell family. Trevor is an bright young boy who is well versed and intelligent. A reliable narrator, he will thoroughly entertain readers with his banter and cheeky attitude. Trevor is telling his story of the summer at Riddell House, twenty years after that one summer and although he is an adult in his thirties now, his story is still dynamic and vivid.
The secondary characters were all created with depth and distinction. Grandpa Samuel although sullen, is charming, likable and the epitome of Riddell House. I felt incredibly sorry for him, and although Serena claimed to care for him, she showed little empathy and took every opportunity to mock him. Throughout the storyline, Serena was cunning and deceptive, had an unhealthy obsession with her brother and used the strange attraction Trevor had towards her to her advantage. She appeared to be a manipulative sociopath, and is bound to strike a nerve with most readers.
I adored the setting, the vivid descriptions of the house were incredible. From ghost Ben, who made a promise to his partner that the timber home will be returned to the forest, the mystery of Riddell House, the strained relationship between Trevor and his father and it also touches on degenerative disease and suspected mental illness. It was more than a story, it was a journey about one young man and a social conscious that leads to uncovering his family history.
It was simply beautifully written. There is something incredibly magical about author Garth Stein's style of writing. A natural storyteller, he's woven a haunting and sentimental tale with a touch of whimsy.