Matt McAvoy Book Review

Amanda Berthault is a good writing professional, and it shows.  Combining a simple, no-frills storyline with a complex and profound narrative, this is high quality fiction, written as a craft, and a masterclass in character development.  Haunted former rock star Shadow is increasingly layered as his story unfolds, and remains a credible and likeable protagonist, despite the incredible chain of events which have brought his life to the point it is now at.  Perhaps I would have liked to see more of fellow traveller Macy’s backstory, and maybe a little less ambiguity about Shadow’s relationship with friend Tommy, but I am also aware that this ambiguity is much the point, and what Amanda is not revealing about her characters is far more poignant.

It did strike me while reading this book that seemingly almost everyone Shadow encounters is a violent thug or killer, both in the backstory and the road trip, and there was room in the book for positive reflection, crossing some of the most stunning landscape in the world.  But, saying that, combining crime mystery with family melodrama is a style which really pays off for Amanda, and rewards her reader.  All in all, the star of Shadows Unveiled is her writing; she is superb, her proof and syntax close to perfection, her tale simplistic with all the right literary and cautionary qualities.  She has the natural talent of being endearing, mysterious and utterly engaging; I found myself reading the whole book over the course of a single day, and continuously keen to know more about the characters – particularly Shadow, always rooting for him without even knowing why.  Although occasionally far-fetched, this book never takes you across the line of incredulity, despite its starstruck storyline.

I would love to read more from Amanda – perhaps a more profoundly woven mystery.  As for this one, it is dark, emotional drama combined with good old road-trip Americana, narrated with a melancholy tone, and I highly recommend it.