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A review by mikkareads
The Snowstorm by Triona Walsh
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
«The Snowstorm» by Tríona Walsh
Tríona Walsh takes us to the Irish island of Inishmore, where the weather is not the only thing mysterious and unforgiving. We meet a group of former friends who reunite after ten years apart, planning to commemorate the death of one of their own in a positive way. Among them is our protagonist Cara, the widow of the man whose life was tragically cut short, who now lives permanently on Inishmore as the island's sole police officer.
The conciliatory, cautiously hopeful mood quickly gives way to an aura of fear and mistrust. An unexpected snowstorm cuts the island off completely from the mainland, and shortly afterwards a body is found… From then on, the story skillfully weaves a dense web of secrets and lies.
Yes, the starting point is a classic of suspense literature: a reunion of old friends, a remote location, a murder... However, the author enriches this basic scheme with atmospheric density, Irish flair and profound character studies, so that «The Snowstorm» transcends the familiar. Walsh's prose masterfully captures the rugged beauty of this Irish island, and she demonstrates a keen sense of suspense and the human psyche. In my opinion, even slow passages are deliberately constructed as breadcrumbs in a story full of twists and turns. The narrative oscillates between crime suspense and thriller elements, which I personally like.
I found the characters to be finely drawn and multi-layered, although their secrets and motivations are not always explained in detail. After just a few chapters, I pegged somebody as the likely murderer. Then I discarded that idea, suspecting other characters instead – and in the end, it turned out that my initial hunch had hit the mark exactly. This was only a mild disappointment, as the author had still managed to lead me astray multiple times…
Conclusion: An atmospheric story that convinces with smoldering suspense and psychological depth, as well as a touch of mystery and Irish culture.
Tríona Walsh takes us to the Irish island of Inishmore, where the weather is not the only thing mysterious and unforgiving. We meet a group of former friends who reunite after ten years apart, planning to commemorate the death of one of their own in a positive way. Among them is our protagonist Cara, the widow of the man whose life was tragically cut short, who now lives permanently on Inishmore as the island's sole police officer.
The conciliatory, cautiously hopeful mood quickly gives way to an aura of fear and mistrust. An unexpected snowstorm cuts the island off completely from the mainland, and shortly afterwards a body is found… From then on, the story skillfully weaves a dense web of secrets and lies.
Yes, the starting point is a classic of suspense literature: a reunion of old friends, a remote location, a murder... However, the author enriches this basic scheme with atmospheric density, Irish flair and profound character studies, so that «The Snowstorm» transcends the familiar. Walsh's prose masterfully captures the rugged beauty of this Irish island, and she demonstrates a keen sense of suspense and the human psyche. In my opinion, even slow passages are deliberately constructed as breadcrumbs in a story full of twists and turns. The narrative oscillates between crime suspense and thriller elements, which I personally like.
I found the characters to be finely drawn and multi-layered, although their secrets and motivations are not always explained in detail. After just a few chapters, I pegged somebody as the likely murderer. Then I discarded that idea, suspecting other characters instead – and in the end, it turned out that my initial hunch had hit the mark exactly. This was only a mild disappointment, as the author had still managed to lead me astray multiple times…
Conclusion: An atmospheric story that convinces with smoldering suspense and psychological depth, as well as a touch of mystery and Irish culture.