Tangled Web UK Review March 2008
Light Reading by
Aliya Whiteley
hbk out February 08
Published by Macmillan New Writing
at £14.99
This very enjoyable entry in the Macmillan New Writing series is Aliya Whiteley’s second novel. It begins in dazzling fashion, with a memorable depiction of the unsatisfying lives of RAF wives Prudence Green, who tells most of the story, and her friend Lena. Pru is overweight, collects suicide notes which she buys on the internet, and is haunted by a mysterious event in her past. Lena is attractive, but with troubles of her own. Her husband is involved in a gay affair and when his lover’s wife, Yvonne commits suicide, Pru finds the body. Pru and Lena flee from the RAF base and pursue the rather barmy idea of investigating the apparent suicide of a former TV star called Crystal Tynee. They finish up in Allcombe, a rather weird seaside town where they encounter a variety of odd characters in their search for the truth about what really happened to Crystal. The story-line sags a little at times, but benefits from unexpected digressions, and overall this is a funny and sometimes moving book. It shouldn’t be considered first and foremost as a detective story, but rather as a study in character. Pru is a marvellous creation and Aliya Whiteley is a novelist with genuine flair. I shall certainly watch out for whatever she writes next.
(
Martin Edwards
- author of the highly acclaimed Harry Devlin Mysteries)
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