Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Scottish photographer Aidan MacLeod has always regarded legendary French photographer Jean-Luc Montpluessy as his “mental mentor,” even if the reclusive artist hasn’t been seen in public since 1941. But when Aidan gets the chance to meet the man, Jean-Luc tells him he needs to go back—and presses a ring into Aidan’s hand. Can Aidan remember the life he’s forgotten?

Book Review

This is an excellent example of a time travel story that is based on fantasy/paranormal effects. And while some people may not like the slight riddle the ending leaves behind – or does it? - I liked that; it fit the whole slightly mysterious but entirely logical plot line. The other aspect I really enjoyed was the slightly snippy tone of the main character and the humor in the way he narrates what happens to him. He reminded me of another one of SA’s books (An Elf for all Centuries), which I totally loved.

Aiden is a young photographer, a bit of an impulsive man, who jumps from lover to lover, leaving a trail of failed relationships behind him. He never seems to find what he is looking for. He keeps looking and when he travels to Paris to meet one of his idols, French photographer and recluse, Jean-Luc Montpluessy, or Monty, in 1978, all paranormal hell breaks loose when Monty hands him a mysterious ring. The story gets a little odd from here, but by the end I understood why. A very ingenious solution!

This is definitely a story for ‘advanced time travel aficionados’, since much knowledge is presumed already present and a lot of guesswork is left to the reader. There are no clear cut explanations here, which is a marvelous change to so many stories that explain and detail ad nauseam. I have found an entirely logical way to explain what happened – but who is to say it is the correct one? The beauty of this story is that you may read it and come up with something totally different.

If you like stories that are part mystery part fun, if you enjoy a puzzle and not being told every step of the solution, and if time travel gives you one of those headaches you don’t know whether to hate or to love, you will probably like this story as much as I did.



DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Short Story, 45 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	01-June-2012
Price	$2.99 ebook
Buy Link	http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2981