Semi Finalist

Assessment:

Plot: In this timely thriller, Beaumont demonstrates a perfected art of suspense. The author expertly blends the personal with the political, depicting through a flawed yet wholly sympathetic heroine, how circumstances of social unrest impact individual lives. 

Prose: The prose reads beautifully and fluently. Regardless of jumps forward in time, the story's structure allows readers to maintain a clear grasp on the chronology of events. Tight and riveting storytelling sings both in moments of quiet intimacy and tense action sequences. 

Originality: Beaumont's work, while integrating certain familiar genre elements, ultimately delivers a fresh and unexpected mystery, while offering insights into current political climates and societal discord. 

Character Development: Beaumont's characters are among the book's assets. As the complex heroine faces traumatic circumstances, loss, and the disintegration of her marriage, readers will both empathize with, fear for, and--at times--become frustrated with her. 

Date Submitted: August 10, 2019