Tuesday, 28 June 2016

BOOK REVIEW: The Fixer ~ The Naked Man by Jill Amy Rosenblatt


Katerina Mills is a sheltered woman with a problem. Money was always tight but now that she's ended a fling with her less-than-faithful boss, her job is gone too. Kat has no idea how she'll pay for food, rent or college tuition when opportunity knocks. Suddenly finding herself on the radar of an exclusive "concierge" service that, for a hefty fee, fixes "problems" with no questions asked, Kat jumps at the chance to join up and end her financial troubles. But the lucrative opportunity carries a big price tag of its own. Soon Kat is faced with choices she'd rather not make and actions she doesn't want to take.



The Fixer: The Naked Man is a compelling story about one young woman's struggle not only with reality but also with her personal ethics and the stark contrast between who she is and who she's always imagined herself to be. It is an unusual "coming of age" tale, neatly wrapped in an action/ suspense/thriller package. Part one of a series (though part two is not yet available), the narrative pulls the reader in, leaving him/her eager for more. Rosenblatt convincingly captures Kat's naivety, internal conflict and growing cynicism with the world and those around her.



Poignant at times and hilarious in others, The Fixer: The Naked Man presents situations that come across as both plausible and realistic despite the rather farfetched subject matter. The dialog is sharp and witty. The characters are appropriately developed and used to good effect, giving the reader a clear picture of who Katerina is, where she's come from and why she is changing into someone else. Though there are a few curve balls that seemed a bit too abrupt and out of left field for this reader (e.g. Lulu and the impact she has on Katerina's family), these have clear relevance to the plot and move the story forward at a good pace.



The Fixer: The Naked Man is an entertaining, engaging and intelligent read. This reviewer looks forward to seeing the next instalment in the series. Brava!



Five out of Five stars




No comments:

Post a Comment