Fearful Symmetry [Paperback]

This book stands on its own, although it is useful to have read the first. The characters are well delineated and humanly complex. The action takes place within the narrow confines of the circle of Bath society with which Sara is connected, and it therefore moves forward in parallel with the unravelling of her private life. The interest of the book lies in its depiction of "why" people do things, rather than the "how" of a complicated plot, but there is genuine empathy with the messiness of the human psyche. Well worth reading, and an author to add to the list of those who will offer a satisfying read.

Cellist Sara Selkirk is not feeling very happy or sanguine right now. First she allowed her agent to persuade her to work with the famous Hungarian composer of modern music, Herve Petrescu (he's writing a very modern and contemporary piece for her), in spite of the fact that she really doesn't like Petrescu's music very much. And then she's allowed herself to be lulled by the famous man's sex appeal into agreeing to find him suitable accommodations while he's in Bath. (Actually what Petrescu was angling for was to live with Sara while they worked on his composition. Something that Sara suddenly discovered she just wasn't up for just then). And if that's not all, there's the messy complication of her relationship with the very married DCI Andrew Poole, who has agreed to give his failing marriage another go in spite of the fact that's he very much in love with Sara. So that when Andrew finds himself in the middle of a letter bomb killing, Sara finds herself taking an unnatural interest in the case. The victim was a not very well liked old lady who had had an altercation with a pair of animal rights activists over a fur coat. The police think that one activist sent a letter bomb to the woman to make a point. But Sara instinctively thinks that some secret in the old woman's past may be at the root of her death. If she could only get Andrew to listen to her...

The novel unfolds over the course of a few months in autumn, and as such is a little slow moving. And the fact that the book seemed to circle over and over again around Sara's and Andrew's twin frustrations over the state of their relationship only added to the nothing-much-happening-here feeling. However, the author's colourful and loving depiction of Bath, together with her precise, vivid and full bodied character portrayals saved the book and made it a more interesting read. Some readers may, however, grow a little tired and irritated of Sara and her frequent outbursts of anger and feelings of superiority -- I know that I did. And I also found myself, unexpectedly, feeling sorry for Andrew's wife, Valerie. It is fairly obvious that she's not a likable character, and yet I couldn't help feeling sympathetic towards the outclassed Valerie. All in all, "Fearful Symmetry" is a well written novel. It is just not a very satisfactory mystery novel because the atmosphere of suspense and intrigue was not always there, and because the entire mystery subplot was often overshadowed by Sara's emotions. About a two-thirds through the book, things do pick up at a breath-neck pace, and everything is tidily tied up. And I couldn't help wishing that the entire book had had that same feel and tone.