Friday, May 25, 2007

Pg. 69: Sophie Hannah's "Hurting Distance"

Today's feature at the Page 69 Test: Sophie Hannah's Hurting Distance.

About the book, from the author's website:

Sundial-maker Naomi Jenkins is used to living with secrets: three years ago something terrible happened to her, so terrible that she never told anyone...

Now, Naomi has another secret: the man she has fallen passionately in love with, unhappily married Robert Haworth. When Robert vanishes without warning or explanation, Naomi knows he must have come to harm. But the police are less convinced, particularly when Robert's wife insists he is not missing.

In desperation, Naomi has an idea. If she can't persuade the police that Robert is in danger, perhaps she can convince them that he is a danger to others. Then they will have to look for him - urgently. Naomi knows how to describe in detail the actions of a psychopath. All she needs to do is dig up her own traumatic past.
Among the praise for Hurting Distance:

"This is a far better-written book than any genre label might suggest. Hannah is a respected poet and uses the fascinating motif of the sundial not only to provide the reader with clues but to underline perceptions of life, time and death. It’s also significant that she won a Daphne du Maurier award. Her powerful subjects of obsession with the past, and fear in the present, testify that she has made a transition to the narrative world of that iconic writer."
--Independent

"Thrilling from the first page, and not simply a whodunit. I thought I had the whole book pegged after the first chapter, but how wrong I was. Pick it up, but be warned, you won’t put it down."
--Caroline Davison, Birmingham Post

"The terror will continue to lurk on the edges of your subconscious long after you’ve put this book down."
--News of the World

Sophie Hannah is a bestselling poet, short story writer, and novelist.

Visit Hannah's website and read the beginning of Hurting Distance.

The Page 69 Test: Sophie Hannah's Hurting Distance.

--Marshal Zeringue