Matt McAvoy Book Review

To tell the truth, my review of Strange Karma is somewhat of a contrary one.  This is actually a pretty good book, yet strangely I struggled with large parts of it, finding it a little difficult at times to get into and stay with the story.  Not that it was particularly complicated, rather convoluted perhaps, as a woman traces the steps of her great-grandfather, decades earlier, into the mountains of Tibet, whilst in possession of a valuable gemstone; unbeknown to her, she is being tracked by a vicious killer, also desperate to get his hands on her ancestor’s legacy, which died on the unforgiving peak of Everest with him.

Willow has chosen two alternating timelines as the format for her book, though it has to be said that the present day takes up the lion’s share of it.  I think this perhaps muddles a multiple-stranded narrative, and in honesty I couldn’t help thinking that it would have been easier to follow and more enjoyable a read if she had opted for two distinct parts, and a completely linear timeline.  I have to say, also, that I actually found the love story from 1924 a touch more engaging than the suspense-thriller aspect of the modern-day storyline.  This book is very wordy, its scenes comprehensively detailed, and occasionally it does feel a touch heavy on digression.

Still, even though there is a lot going on, Willow is a good writer.  I would suggest that Strange Karma would be recommended for a committed, disciplined reader; anyone less than so may find themselves distracted at times.  But, her professionalism isn’t in question at all; she knows the craft of writing well.  The proof could do with a touch of revision, for grammar errors and particularly some jaw-clenching punctuation, but otherwise there is hard work, dedication and knowledge in her writing.  As an author, she is quality, to be sure.