Best selling author, Helen Fields delivers a gripping, disturbing and compelling story in her first foray into historical fiction.
A dual timeline explores the main character, Sofia Logans life first as a young girl then in her present of 1905 as a mother… With enough tragedy in both to make Tess of the D’urbervilles envious, you’d be mistaken to even think of Sofia as a victim.
Suddenly widowed, Sofia, as typical of women of the time has little options in order to keep herself and her children out of the workhouse.
Appearing as her Knight in shining armour comes her husbands former employer, Mr Visant, who soon emerges as a manipulative, cruel, controlling man determined to bring out the darkness of Sofia s past and use it to his advantage. As Sofia begins to become consumed by the traits she possesses that she has long since kept in check.
As a protagonist, Sofia is not your average herione , she is unsettlingly likeable despite the darkness of her addiction s and obsessions and you can’t help but root for her. It makes you question how far you would go for the ones you loved and also debate the nature vs nurture element of life.
With a supporting cast of just as interesting characters, this book is a compelling read, even if certain scenes were so disturbing it was difficult to read on…
As the book spirals to its conclusion, I was glad I’d persevered and I found the ending not only satisfactory but also one that left me wanting more
Lorraine A Life Less Ordinary 