Well written and fast paced, with multiple twists that leave you guessing until the end.
Popular author Kate Furnivall’s latest novel, The Guardian of Lies,is both a romance and a thriller. Set in Southern France at the time of the Cold War, there are several interwoven plots and divided loyalties. Motivated by guilt, patriotism, hatred, blackmail or greed, each character’s function provides a purposeful platform to represent history.
There are the Russians, the Americans and, the French. Then, there is Eloïse and her family: her older brother, André, is a patriotic Intelligence Officer working for the CIA; the younger brother, Isaac, a devout Communist. Then there is her father, the farmer – a man who prefers the company of animals but also espouses French nationalism.
As for Eloïse, she is a private investigator in Paris, a role she pursued in admiration of André. For years throughout their childhood, Eloïse tried to prove her usefulness to her brother until one night in Paris when he finally yielded his trust to Eloïse. Devastatingly, it resulted in an accident leaving him without the use of his legs and so he disappeared from her life.
A short time later she receives a note from her dad requesting she return home. Upon her return to the farm she discovers he has sold some of their farmland to the Americans. To make matters worse, the land will be used as an American airbase which they and their town community are all against. Surprisingly, she also discovers her brother André is living there.
Driven by curiosity and a need for forgiveness from her brother, Eloïse wants to solve two mysteries – who was trying to kill her brother at the time of the accident and why did her dad sell out? She soon discovers that she is also on someone’s hit list and so mystery number three, the most complicated of all, must also be solved. Who is trying to kill her and who can she trust?
Although the book is primarily told by the protagonist, the occasional interludes by Leon Roussel are a refreshing change from her single-minded ambitions. Leon is Eloïse’s romantic interest and long-time childhood friend and his narratives ensure compassion toward Eloïse is developed. Without him, she comes across as obsessional and the reverence for her brother unhealthy, despite the inherent guilt she feels after the accident.
Well written and fast paced, the multiple twists leave you guessing until the very end. It is indeed at the finale when you find out who each character truly is – and, of course – what happens with Eloïse and Leon.
Reviewed by Rebecca Wu
Distributed by: Simon & Schuster Australia
Released: July 2019
RRP: $32.99
- Visit Kate Furnivall’s website
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