The Third Eye

Despite the air of a fantasy story about title and cover and the time needed to adjust to the voice of the book, this is a very powerful, realistic story. Set in Scotland during the thirties, it's apparently about the Ballinford Doom, the curse by which the eldest son and heir to the Earl of Ballinford has, for generations, died before succeeding to the title. The 13-year-old Jinty is making her way to the Procurator Fiscal's office to be interviewed about the Earl's death. Then and while she waits, she recalls and creates the events which have led up to the death. In so doing she weaves together many strands of lives and past with clashes of personality, especially within her own family. There are some memorable scenes and in so many ways, but particularly in characterisation, narration and the creation of incident, this is a lovely hard-edged contrast to the cloying sentimentality of so much fiction for this age group. Oh for more third eye vision.