Improvising Carla (Hardcover)

For Helen North holidaying alone, the Greek Island with its' vine-covered terraces, wide sands and blue sea, is more beautiful than any photograph could portray, but when the holiday was planned she was part of a couple and four days into her holiday her bravado at holidaying alone is ebbing away, with all manner of problems never dreamed of. So when sitting in a pavement café writing postcards, she is hailed by a young woman who travelled out on the same flight, she is delighted to meet a kindred spirit, also on a solo holiday. But meeting Carla Finch is to change Helen's life irrevocably and forever.

Within only hours of their meeting, Carla is installed at Helen's Hotel and the tone of the holiday is changed. For Carla has an unceasing restlessness, constantly scanning the faces of the tourists, as though searching for someone. Sometimes confident, sometimes anxious to please, but always seeking to move on to the next experience. Although never made explicit, they both had an unspoken agreement not to talk about their real lives, so outrageous fantasy was the order of the day. Meeting up with two Americans, Glen and KD, provides the for the holiday romance, but after too much to drink Carla becomes jealous when Glen pays attention to Helen, and walking back to their hotel, in the early hours of the morning they squabble, and then Carla Finch is dead.

Back in England, struggling with remorse and guilt, Helen finds it impossible to take up the strands of her old life. Maybe the only way to rid herself of the nightmares is to understand Carla, and so she begins to walk in Carla's footsteps to meet the people she knew, to learn about her life. As she becomes immersed in Carla's life, Helen submerges her own identity in an effort to atone for Carla's death. But the more she learns, the more she realises all is not as she perceived, nor are the people who surrounded Carla. Obsessed with her own guilt, Helen herself distorts the facts in an effort to both protect and punish herself. But does she really know the truth, about Carla, and about her death?

This is an incredible book. I was gripped from the first sentence 'These days I see Carla everywhere'. The writing is wonderful. I will admit that I favour psychological thrillers and I put this up there with the best that I have ever read. Highly recommended.

----- Lizzie Hayes 15 February 2001

I have nothing but praise for this book, and as such i am now going to seek out all the other books Joanna Hines has written. If any of them are half as good as this, they will be well worth the read.

Hines's cast of characters is great. They are all too human, and pack an emotional punch. Helen is a strong lead character who develops as the book goes along. Her descent into self inflicted exile i spainful to read about and all too realistically portrayed.

Carla, at first, seems a rather dislikeable character. But then, after her death, when the book takes us back to england, and "Poor Carla" quickly becomes her epitaph. The story of her real life is sad and compelling. You cannot help but feel intense sorrow at her death, and the way your opinion of her changes through the book is testament to Hines's ability. At times you just want to strange the people responsible for making Carla's life such a dreary disappointment for her. She was constantly living in shadows, and being made to feel second rate and worthless. Why could she not have been happy? Why did her dumb husband and his brat children (Not Vi, she's a sweet little thing) make her feel so miserable?

The suspense she builds is masterful, and it all explodes in a rush of adrenaline in a great and realistic climax.

Hines's writing is superb, and her evocation of the Greek island is wonderful. She captures the essences perfectly.

Overall, this is a remarkably original work, full of good characters, good settings, twists, and great writing. It is, at times, heartbreaking.