Lucy Potter is a successful artist but she has done no new work in months. She fears she has lost the creative spark that sustained her and enabled her to express her view of the world.  Will she ever regain it?

The chance discovery of an old notebook while on a walk in the woods provides a welcome distraction, raising questions she cannot answer. Who wrote it, why is it in code, what secrets does it hide? And why does it include the address of a house that does not exist?

Partial decoding of the notebook, surely written many years ago, reveals troubling incidents in the life of an unnamed girl. Deeply affected by the girl’s plight, Lucy feels impelled to find out who she is or was and what happened to her. Could she still be alive? 

Lucy’s search for answers has an outcome she could never have anticipated.  But will the re-appearance in Lucy’s life of fellow artist Rex Monday help or hinder her attempts to re-establish her position in the art world – and provide the stability she needs in her personal life?

As the story unfolds, we are drawn into the world as seen through Lucy’s eyes. A world of colour and light, of shape and pattern and texture, inviting us to see it that way too.

My Review

This was such a change from my usual diet of crime fiction, Gothic horror, psychological thrillers and Scandi noir. A very gentle read, character driven, and for those who love art and an intriguing mystery.

Lucy’s career is in a slump. As a successful artist who has exhibited in Paris and New York as well as London, she now can’t find the inspiration for new work. But a reunion of her art college peers reintroduces her to fellow artist Rex Monday and they soon begin a relationship, though they both keep their own homes and studios. And Lucy finds her spark again, though it may or may not have anything to do with Rex.

In the meantime, while out walking, Lucy finds an old notebook, written in code. With the help of a friend of a friend, they manage to decode part of it and what is revealed shows a very unhappy childhood of an unnamed young girl. But is it real? Or is it fiction? There are plenty of clues to lead her to the owner of the notebook, and a separate story unfolds.

I found the story of the notebook owner more interesting than that of Lucy herself to be honest. She had a colourful life with a horrible mother (as documented by her), and an interesting relationship with others including her older husband. If I was Lucy I would also have searched for the truth. A beautifully written book with more than its share of drama, and just enough mystery to keep the reader intrigued.

About the Author

Christopher Bowden lives in south London. He is the author of six novels, each with a colour theme. The Amber Maze, published in September 2018, is the latest. His previous books have been praised variously by Andrew Marr, Julian Fellowes, Sir Derek Jacobi, and Shena Mackay. Of his third novel, The Red House, Sir Derek said, “Very entertaining, cleverly constructed and expertly paced. I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Website:
www.christopherbowden.com