99 Red Balloons – named after, and featuring the 1980s song by the enviably beautiful Nena – is Libby Carpenter’s first novel. It’s a twisting crime thriller, and although it was only released a few days ago, it’s already creating a buzz.
A huge emotional punch
So what’s the fuss about? First and foremost, 99 Red Balloons packs a huge emotional punch for any parent, as it’s the story of two little girls who go out to buy sweets and don’t come back. With particular piquancy, the children are stolen three decades apart, leaving two families fractured.
The tale is told in the first person from different points of view – a child, an aunt, a grandmother, and chillingly, an abductor. This offers insights, often painful, into the characters’ lives and feelings. I would defy anyone to read the book from cover to cover without crying at least once. There are, however, heartwarming aspects too, for example when grandmother Maggie realises her estranged son-in-law has never stopped searching for his lost daughter.
Not for your maiden aunt
Was there anything I didn’t like? No – it’s well-written, credible and flows beautifully – but I wouldn’t buy it as a present for a maiden aunt who hated swearing. Some of the characters are (believably) potty-mouthed. I also found it difficult to follow the switches between 1980s flashbacks and the present day, but I suspect that was a deliberate ploy by the writer to maintain tension. It certainly worked, with a couple of breathtaking twists towards the end of the story.
Crimetastic
I chose to buy the book because I met author Libby Carpenter at Crimefest earlier this year, and her short description of the plot gripped my attention straight away. In case you didn’t know, Crimefest is a crazy weekend in Bristol in May. Held at the Marriott Royal Hotel, home to many a corporate convention. it’s just like a business conference except that the subject matter is crime fiction. Avid readers and writers rub shoulders with the greats, there are panels and prizes, and publishers pay for unlimited wine for all. There are free books too. It’s a crimetastic bash and highly recommended – as is 99 Red Balloons.
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As well as reading crime thrillers, I also like to write a great crime story full of twists. The Grass Trail is my latest – a tense crime thriller similar in style to Robert Galbraith, Ruth Rendell and John Grisham. Shaun Halloran wouldn’t be in prison if Kat White hadn’t taken his gun. As soon as he can escape, she’s dead. But with his criminal empire crumbling, who can he trust? Find out more about this cracking crime story and download a free sample from Amazon (this is the UK link, but you can find the book on all other Amazon sites too).
