Brijit Reed

Read this book in one sitting not just because it is a relatively short read but mainly because the story is very captivating. When we meet the main character, Sarah, she is at the lowest emotional point of her life, so much so that she doesn't want to go on living. As an anthropologist, she is brought in on a dig in Scotland where two bog bodies are unearthed, their bodies preserved in the peat for hundreds of years. Perhaps it's her very vulnerable state and emotional openness that allows show more Sarah access to experience visions of the life that the bog people have lived but whether it be her over-active imagination or not, their story carries such resonances with Sarah's current life that despite the turbulent life story of the bog victims and the manner in which they died, through their story Sarah finds meaning for her own life and develops a strength to go, which is powerful. This story will make you feel as well as think and is so visually immediate that I can't understand Hollywood not wanting this as their very next movie. It's that good. show less

This is a wonderful story that starts off slow, builds up a head of steam and then doesn't let up till right to the end. As well as a fine story-teller, the author is an anthropologist and has researched her material well. Although the main characters are real historical figures, too little provable facts are known about this period of history and speculation abounds among Egyptologists as to who did what to whom and if so, how and why? Although speculative, the story presented, as well as show more being highly plausible, is engaging and a roller coaster of a ride, complete with intrigue, manipulations, murders, true love and one of the best villains I've seen in any story in quite a long time. I hope the author is working on a sequel. show less