A review by limonik
The Western Wind by Samantha Harvey

2.0

It was such a bore! I had high expectations after reading the blurb. The richest guy (a newcomer) Newman drowns in the river and the local priest is trying to figure out who the murderer is (and whether it is a murder) through a series of confessions. The concept sounded amazing and the story is told in reverse! Obviously, I was beyond excited to read this. However, the book is very slow. The story is told through the priest's POV and he is not a sympathetic character. I thought the priest symbolised the hypocrisy and the dogma whereas Newman was the symbol of modern ages, enlightenment. And the bridge was a bridge between the two worlds and concepts of thinking and believing. Newman drowning in the river where a bridge shall be built is also very symbolic. We get to know the villagers and their superstitions and the village's current state through the confessions. Everything is great apart from the fact that the book is very slow, too atmospheric and Newman's death is explained so abruptly and makes no sense at the end. I think this is an opportunity of a great novel gone missing.
Such a pity...
The best thing about this book was the cover. It is gorgeous!