by Dinah Jefferies
Standalone
GENRE: Historical fiction suspense-romance
My rating: ★★★★★
Actually 4.7 rounded up to 5 stars.
I chose to read "The Missing Sister" expecting a passionate love story infused with a touch of mystery and adventure, and a hint of historical elements.
While the novel does contain those components, it primarily revolves around a cold case involving the main character's family.
The love story is more of a subplot, developed on an emotional level rather than through explicit romantic scenes.
I have to admit that in the start I felt disappointed by the love story being put in the background (and I notice that the male character of the couple appears only after 25% of the book, then disappears halfway through the book and reappears in the last quarter), but later, feeling fully involved in the intrigue of the mystery and the family dynamics that were gradually revealed, I couldn't help but turn one page after another with great excitement and trepidation.
__THE PLOT IN SHORT ___ Burma, 1936 Belle Hatton starts a new, glamorous job as a nightclub singer, in the country where her parents used to live before her birth.
However, she is haunted by a family mystery:: a 25-year-old newspaper clipping found in her deceased father's belongings about the disappearance of their baby daughter, Elvira.
Desperate to discover what happened to the sister she never knew, Belle's inquiries lead to unsettling rumors, outright threats, and the attention of a handsome American journalist named Oliver.
Can she trust her growing feelings for Oliver? Is her sister really dead? And could there still be a chance Belle might find her?
The whole story is told in the first person, in alternating chapters, by Belle, the main character, in the present of the book, i.e., the late 1930s, and by her mother in the past, in the 1910s and then the 1920s.
_____ THE CHARACTERS _____
Both the female main character, Annabelle, who openly expresses her emotions, fragility and aspirations, and the supporting characters, as well as the minor ones, all of whom maintain an aura of mystery and ambiguity until the end, are well delineated by the author through their actions and words, whether they are subtle or sincere (which remains an open question until the end).
What created great tension while reading the story, in fact, was Annabelle's persistent feeling of not knowing exactly who to trust and of continually discovering clues to the truth, which in reality could only be red herrings. Belle's mother's fragility, which is then reflected in her daughter, is what makes us root for these two women and is what ultimately, after having faced them, will make them stronger.
Although I would have appreciated a deeper exploration of Belle and Oliver's relationship, particularly a more developed Oliver, I still enjoyed their connection.
_____SETTING and HISTORY _____
However, the great star of the book is the setting itself.
The author vividly depicts landscapes, scents, historical events, and sensations, creating a captivating and almost magical oriental vibe.
Skillfully interwoven with this sense of magic feel and enchanting surrealism there are dramatic historical events ( such as very violent riots with brutal killings of men , women and babies ), never presented in a distressing way and never overwhelming, but informative and necessary to give the story a sense of the difficult reality of that country in that time.
The historical notes at the end of the book are a valuable context, shedding light on British colonialism in Burma (now Myanmar) and the city of Rangoon (now Yangon).
The notes also explain how the author altered the timeline of a historical event for fictional purposes. I always appreciate such additions.
____ SOME THOUGHTS INSPIRED BY THE BOOK ______
For me, the historical element in fiction is a significant bonus, prompting reflection on both the past and the present.
Oliver's arguments and the depiction of historical events highlight the exploitation of weaker nations by empires throughout history (since before the birth of Christ, empires expanded by undermining the weakest and stealing their wealth).
This echoes modern-day situations, where Western multinational corporations often exploit resources in countries with limited political or economic power. So, not much has changed, indeed human selfishness perpetuates a cycle of inequality. This is not only unfair, but it makes me laugh bitterly when I think of all the speeches of modern politicians, who seem to want to achieve some high degree of democracy, but actually it is all thin air. (Sorry for the digression)
_____WRITING STYLE _____
The writing style is fluid, and despite the presence of both political and personal drama, the story remains captivating and entertaining without becoming overly distressing.
Icing on the cake : readers longing for the "happy ever after" will not be disappointed!
This is my first Dinah Jefferies novel, but it certainly won't be my last.
Although I've ventured outside my usual genres (which rarely include exotic settings and often lean towards historical murder mysteries or Regency romances), I'm very satisfied with this read and eager to explore more within this genre.
Thank you for stopping by and reading my review.
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