A Beautiful, Terrible Thing

This novel was the winning title in the publisher’s inaugural Search for a Storyteller competition aimed at unagented and unpublished authors. It is a strong work and anyone reading it will surely never be tempted since to check their phone while driving, let alone breaking speed limits at the same time. This is what otherwise nice and decent 18-year-old Nathan does, with disastrous consequences. While awaiting his trial for dangerous driving he meets beautiful and spirited Cara, who shares this story’s first person narrative. They fall for each other, but she is also the sister of the boy Nathan runs over and kills, with neither of them realising each other’s tragic link until late in the day.

So much, so powerful, with the final scene in court very well brought off.  But elsewhere this is also a novel often too full on for its own good. So many tears are shed throughout by everyone concerned, Mums and Dads included, it is almost surprising to find the book’s pages still remain dry. Elsewhere the memory of Si, the younger boy in the accident, is praised almost to distraction. Nathan’s and Cara’s developing relationship meanwhile is related in pitilessly unsparing detail, with their affectionate banter more amusing to them than possibly to many of their readers.

By sheer determination the author does finally win through, and looks reasonably certain to go on to write other stories in time. Playlists for the couple’s favourite music are also included as an appendix, an extra but possibly time-bound gift for readers keen to compare tastes.  But please next time can there by more use of brakes not just on the road but also in the amount of emotion at present spilling out at every conceivable moment?