The lives of two women who never meet are about
to collide.
Lucie married young. Her husband has become
abusive, controlling and violent.
Having lost everything as a result of the marriage, Lucie
decides it is time to walk away.
As she leaves the house on the morning of
September 11th, heading to a job interview at the World Trade
Centre and the promise of a new life, the unthinkable happens.
On a street in New York, choking on the dust,
Lucie stumbles upon an opportunity for a new life.
She thought the grass would be greener. But
starting again is never that simple…
Sometimes, what lies ahead is even more deadly.
What did I think?
Until September 11th 2001, I could never understand how people of a certain generation always knew where they were and what they were doing on the day that President John. F. Kennedy was assassinated. With a family member working only a block away from WTC, I can remember September 11th of 16 years ago as if it was yesterday. I can still feel the shock, fear and disbelief as the majestic twin towers collapsed, towers that I had stood before to photograph only the previous September. So I was a little unsure how I would feel about reading a book set around this horrific event, but I had absolutely no cause for concern as Pat Young recreates events with so much grace and compassion in her EXCEPTIONAL debut novel, Till The Dust Settles.
Lucie is in an abusive relationship with her husband, Curtis, and in an attempt to take back control, applies for a job as a cleaner in the World Trade Center. Her job interview is on September 11th 2001 and she's worried about turning up late after applying make-up to cover up the imprint of her husband's hand on her face. For once, the detestable Curtis has saved Lucie's life as by turning up late she is outside WTC when the plane hits. In the confusion and blindness of the dust cloud, Lucie drops her handbag and when she scambles to pick it up, she picks up somebody else's bag. In an attempt to return it, she is mistaken for the bag's owner and she realises that she might have an opportunity to escape Curtis once and for all.
Phew! What a scorching read. I was shocked to find that this is Pat Young's debut novel, it is so impeccably written and she has created such a strong likeable character in Lucie that you root for her from the start. There are so many moments that tug at your heartstrings and I felt completely emotionally invested in the book that I gasped and held in my tears several times over. Lucie may have been a beaten wife but she is so strong underneath and Pat Young has quite a rollercoaster ride in store for her before she even has a chance of her own happy ever after.
Without capitalising on such a tragic event, Pat Young has written an emotional story of hope and new beginnings. Without darkness we wouldn't have light and this story is the perfect example of that. Till the Dust Settles is such an exceptional debut novel and if ever a book is well worth 5 stars, this is it. It makes me wish I had a secret extra star to give to outstanding books such as this. Absolutely superb!
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion. I am releasing my review as part of the blog tour.
My rating:
Buy it from Amazon
About the author
Pat Young grew up in the
south west of Scotland where she still lives, sometimes. She often
goes to the other extreme, the south west of France, in search of
sunlight.
Pat never expected to be
a writer. Then she found a discarded book with a wad of cash
tucked in the flyleaf. ‘What if something awful happened to the
person who lost this book?’ she thought, and she was off.
Pat knew nothing of
writing, but she knew a thing or two about books, having studied
English, French and German at Glasgow University. A passion for
languages led to a career she loved and then a successful
part-time business that allowed her some free-time, at last.
Pat had plans, none of
which included sitting at her desk from daybreak till dusk. But
some days she has to. Because there’s a story to be told. And when
it’s done, she can go out to play. On zip-wires and abseil ropes,
or just the tennis court.
Pat writes psychological
thrillers. Till the Dust
Settles is her debut, from Bloodhound Books.
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