Another war novel - and a very accomplished one. A debut book by a friend and colleague, Jill McGivering. It's set in Helmand and the principal character is a woman journalist who - in common with her creator - has spent time embedded with British troops in Afghanistan.
The narrative thread is very strong, so too is the sense of place (and an acute sense of smell). Jill performs the considerable feat of devising Afghan civilian characters who are perhaps the most convincing of her cast. There is a lot of empathy here. And as a fictional account of a journalistic embed, it has real authority.
I am not quite so taken by the denouement of the plot. Could this happen? Well, make up your own mind.
The narrative thread is very strong, so too is the sense of place (and an acute sense of smell). Jill performs the considerable feat of devising Afghan civilian characters who are perhaps the most convincing of her cast. There is a lot of empathy here. And as a fictional account of a journalistic embed, it has real authority.
I am not quite so taken by the denouement of the plot. Could this happen? Well, make up your own mind.
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