FICTION
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Appearance of buring hand on a page
From Museo dele Anime del Purgatorio
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BOOK
ILLUMINATIONS
From Merrimon Book Reviews
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The Last Will of Moira Leahy
by Theresa Walsh
Loss,
Quest and the Mystery of Language
Every November,
language specialist Maeve Leahy remembers her twin, the twin she lost 9
year ago. This year, she gives into the impulse to escape the
memory by going to an auction house. There she discovers a
Javanese knife, a keris, which reminds her of one lost in the
past. Dreams begin to intrude upon her daily life. In an
effort to find out more about the mysterious relic, Maeve journey to
Rome in search of a master to tell her more of its origins.
Mysterious notes nailed to her door appear seemingly out of
nowhere. Danger threatens her quest and yet the relic seems to
have a power to impel her to seek its mystery. What will she
discover at the end of her quest? Whatever happened to Moira
Leahy?
THE LAST WILL
OF MOIRA LEAHY explores the dynamics of loss and return in an
inner and physical journey. Combining elements of suspense with
emotion and a twist of the supernatural, Theresa Walsh pens a
fast-paced imaginative tale. THE LAST WILL OF MOIRA LEAHY
alternates between a narrative of the present, the quest, and the past
history of the twins Moira and Maeve to the events which lead to the
loss of Moira. Theresa Walsh breaks down the novel into different
segments, each designated by stages of Moira's last will. Theresa
Walsh clearly designates each change. Although mystical
supernatural events guide the action within the novel, the prose itself
does not have a mystical, poetic quality. A suspenseful
atmosphere builds as the two narratives converge. The force
within the novel builds, however, from the emotional truths
Maeve confronts on the inward part of her journey.
Although this novel shares some elements with the romance genre,
particularly in its focus on emotional truths, the exploration of
family dynamics, and her relationship with Noel Ryan, the novel
itself differs from both traditional romance and suspense.
Therein lies its power. The build-up to the final images gains
more effect as reader expectations alternate between competing genre
expectations. Theresa Walsh avoids the pitfalls of cliches common
in twin stories in an ending that will haunt and move readers.
In her debut novel, Theresa Walsh talent for
storytelling and imagery is clearly evident. Some of the
intriguing thematic elements, such as the notion of lost languages,
would benefit from more exploration and integration throughout the
novel. Nevertheless, THE
LAST WILL OF MOIRA LEAHY is a very good choice for romance and
suspense fans looking for a balance between light entertainment reading
and a novel that expands beyond strict genre expectations with
inventiveness. Theresa Walsh creates a wonderful ending that
manages to keep the supernatural mystery in the midst of the
resolution. Nicely done!
Publisher: Shaye
Areheart Books (October 13, 2009)
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Merrimon Book Reviews
Review Courtesy of Amazon Vine
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