by Helen MacInnes
I didn’t love this book as much as I did when I was younger (when it was my favourite MacInnes title)
This probably isn’t this book’s fault,
I worked the New Zealand elections which left me exhausted. (but proud to have been part of the process)
I have changed as a reader & now rarely enjoy longer books.
& this one was a slow starter with artist Kenneth Strang taking a leisurely boat trip from the States to Greece to execute a commission for a a magazine. Not only is the magazine paying for an artist to sketch various historic buildings – they are also paying for a photographer. Strang is certainly surprised when the photographer, Steve Kladas, without telling Strang, adds a mysterious small case to Strang’s luggage.
& so the adventure begins.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
The book is extremely talky, talky at first, all the action at first moves at the speed of concrete.
This changes the more the book progresses & I enjoyed learning about this period of history in Greece. (the book is set in the late 1950s)
Not a spoiler to say there is a magnificent finale at Delphi.
Recommended for patient readers who can give this book the time and concentration it deserves.
Carol - She's So Novel! 