A chilling debut novel of obsession, loss and birds, reminiscent of Nicci French and Barbara Vine
Out of a Clear Sky
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'...enthralling read with some fantastic descriptions and observations that immediately transport you to the heart of the scene.'
-- Peterborough Evening Telegraph
'A compelling story and one that offers a new slant on familiar territory and delivers a gratifyingly ambiguous resolution.'
-- Black Static
'Hinchcliffe's debut novel is a dark psychological crime thriller.' -- The Big Issue
'Sally Hinchcliffe has such a sense of the macabre, not to mention a formidable knowledge of birds' -- Mail on Sunday
'This is a well written book by a novelist of genuine promise.' -- Do You Write Under Your Own Name
'This is an intelligent novel about a woman in a man's world.' -- The Sunday Times
Highly recommended. -- Literary Review
-- Peterborough Evening Telegraph
'A compelling story and one that offers a new slant on familiar territory and delivers a gratifyingly ambiguous resolution.'
-- Black Static
'Hinchcliffe's debut novel is a dark psychological crime thriller.' -- The Big Issue
'Sally Hinchcliffe has such a sense of the macabre, not to mention a formidable knowledge of birds' -- Mail on Sunday
'This is a well written book by a novelist of genuine promise.' -- Do You Write Under Your Own Name
'This is an intelligent novel about a woman in a man's world.' -- The Sunday Times
Highly recommended. -- Literary Review
Book Description
Those overcast dawns are the best, the truest light. There's no false colour, no shadows or glare. People talk about the cold, hard light of day. There's no espcaing what you can see by it. There can be no confusing, in that early morning light, the truth with the wished-for reality of dreams. The body was still there. He was still dead. After her long-term relationship ends, Manda finds solace in bird-watching – a hobby her ex introduced her to and which she has embraced for its quiet beauty. The birds provide Manda with an escape from her loneliness, especially as she seems to be losing her group of close friends along with her boyfriend. But then she falls prey to the ever more sinister attentions of another birdwatcher. As the harassment builds up, she is forced to flee; and details of her own complicated past start to emerge. Out of a Clear Sky is an unsettling psychological thriller about obsession and truth, with the edginess of Nicci French and the class of Barbara Vine, and introduces a fascinating, compelling and freshly original voice to crime fiction.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Kay Sexton
Format:Hardcover
This debut novel, Out of a Clear Sky, is ... clever. And I say that in full knowledge of what the word `clever' means to most readers, and that it's a turn-off. But this is the other kind of clever; the kind that leaves a little hole of worry or doubt or expectation in your head as you read and then knits up that gap with perfect timing and economy so that you, the reader, feel satisfied (a) that you were clever enough to spot the thing in the first place and (b) that the writer was only playing with you and knew exactly where and when to answer the question that you'd been asking yourself. As an example (and not to play with spoilers here) my heart did sink the tiniest bit when I found the protagonist was called Manda and her sister Zannah - such outlandish names, I thought, and wondered why. And then I found out why, and the solution was so clever, and so apposite to plot development, that I grinned to myself as I read on.
And I'm not a big birder. The truth is that I have a negative thing about birds. But Sally Hinchcliffe reconciled me to the joys of waiting and watching, and Manda's observations of native species are so perfectly slotted into the main storyline that even a non-birder like me will learn and enjoy. More than that though, the way the birding experiences foreshadow or amplify the human narrative is excellently handled. As I say, clever, in all the best senses of the word. If you enjoy Dibden and du Maurier, I recommend this book to you
And I'm not a big birder. The truth is that I have a negative thing about birds. But Sally Hinchcliffe reconciled me to the joys of waiting and watching, and Manda's observations of native species are so perfectly slotted into the main storyline that even a non-birder like me will learn and enjoy. More than that though, the way the birding experiences foreshadow or amplify the human narrative is excellently handled. As I say, clever, in all the best senses of the word. If you enjoy Dibden and du Maurier, I recommend this book to you
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Sean Jones
Format:Hardcover
A clever, thoughtful and deftly assembled thriller. It is short on violence and devoid of cliche. What you get instead is convincing characterisation and acute observation. This is a treat.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Caroline_LS
Format:Hardcover
Structured around the beauty of bird sightings and bird-watching, Out of a Clear Sky is a crafted debut that is intrinsically layered with themes and characters. Skilful, clever, well researched and with inspired prose, this stimulating debut transported me into specific locations with seeming ease.
After Manda Brooks' long term relationship ends she hopes to continue her list, collecting and cataloguing bird sightings. The bird sightings provide stability, continuity and some form of consolation, as her friends and her ex fade from her life. Set in the midst of a community of bird-watchers, the events and locations drive the characters through early morning mists, coastlines, into campsites and into hides. Each sense of place and each bird sighting is intensely induced.
As Manda journeys and searches for sightings, she is pushed to her limit as she becomes the prey of another birder. The obsessive natures of individuals are then considered, linking Manda and birds through subtle simile. As she flees and as her life is methodically taken to pieces (again on a number of layers), Manda begins to re-examine, to revisit her upbringing and, in doing so, reaches conclusions regarding her personal connections.
Out of a Clear Sky is an exploration of interaction, human nature, love, loss, obsession, truth, betrayal and much more. The delicate weaving through layers, the seamless joins, are all controlled with a delicate hand. Attention to detail and discriminating observation combine making this, above all else, an enthralling read.
This psychological thriller is both an original and an impressive debut
After Manda Brooks' long term relationship ends she hopes to continue her list, collecting and cataloguing bird sightings. The bird sightings provide stability, continuity and some form of consolation, as her friends and her ex fade from her life. Set in the midst of a community of bird-watchers, the events and locations drive the characters through early morning mists, coastlines, into campsites and into hides. Each sense of place and each bird sighting is intensely induced.
As Manda journeys and searches for sightings, she is pushed to her limit as she becomes the prey of another birder. The obsessive natures of individuals are then considered, linking Manda and birds through subtle simile. As she flees and as her life is methodically taken to pieces (again on a number of layers), Manda begins to re-examine, to revisit her upbringing and, in doing so, reaches conclusions regarding her personal connections.
Out of a Clear Sky is an exploration of interaction, human nature, love, loss, obsession, truth, betrayal and much more. The delicate weaving through layers, the seamless joins, are all controlled with a delicate hand. Attention to detail and discriminating observation combine making this, above all else, an enthralling read.
This psychological thriller is both an original and an impressive debut
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Plodding with bits of excitement
I had to try twice to read this book. The first page is interesting, then a real self pitying plod through the heroine's thoughts and actions till the middle of the book where it... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Ransen Owen
4.0 out of 5 stars
The new Barbara Vine
I picked up 'Out of a Clear Sky' in the bookshop because it had a recommendation on the front cover that it was like Barbara Vine, one of my favourite authors. Read more
Published on 11 Mar 2010 by DrLMK
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely
No need to be interested in birdwatching to love this book. Beautifully written and very enjoyable.
Published on 14 Sep 2009 by Jax
2.0 out of 5 stars
Bored watching
Do you enjoy bird watching? Are you lonely? Have your so-called friends started to avoid you? Are you being stalked by a wierdo twitcher? Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2009 by Mostly Harmless
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terror amongst the Twitchers
A gripping tale combining ornothology with human obsession It was chosen by the BBC a Book at Bedtime and I suspect the chilling factor of a stalker intent on his prey led to many... Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2009 by Mr. PR and Mrs Hinchcliffe
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quality thriller with an individual flavour
I though this a truly original book blending all the qualities of a good old-fashioned page-turning thriller with some superb writing. Read more
Published on 25 May 2008 by M. Jackson
5.0 out of 5 stars
superb debut
a gripping, edgy and beautifully written novel, this atmospheric and ambiguous tale, set among a community of birdwatchers, follows a woman pushed to the limit by the attentions of... Read more
Published on 9 May 2008 by meggo
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