Lead Review

• Book: Santorini Sunsets
• Location: Santorini
• Author: Anita Hughes

Anita Hughes is very good at bringing a romantic world to life where men are men and women are indulged and cosseted – a touch of 1950s glamour, set in present day, where cocktails and fashion are integral to the high flying society she brings to life in her novels. There is sumptuous food of the locality, robes galore and handsome men to keep your interest as she sets her story against a beautiful backdrop.

In this book she has turned to the wonderful island of Santorini. Brigit Palmer has arrived to get married a few days hence to Hollywood heartthrob Blake Crawford, such an eligible young man. Staying in several villas dotted around the island, the wedding party enjoys stunning sunsets, picnics, boat trips and more in the build up to the nuptials.

The two important men in Brigit’s life, Blake and her father Francis are philanthropists, both hope to make the world a better place, and she too is on the point of moving from her job as a successful lawyer in the city (New York) to something that is more worthwhile. But the big question for her is: what exactly is the relationship between these two men? Some new discoveries certainly unsettle the bride-to-be and she flees to a cafe to nibble at food and regain her equilibrium.

Meanwhile who should turn up, but Brigit’s ex-husband, writer Nathaniel, who is working for Hello Magazine, together with handsome Olivier, his photographer. Nathaniel is there in his professional capacity at the behest of groom Blake, which really puts a fly in the ointment. Blake is selling the story and pictures of their wedding, the money going to good causes, but does it really have to be Brigit’s ex husband as master of photographic ceremonies? There are strands of other backstories that come to wobble a number of the party guests, which cause flux and upset and lead to a twist at the end. The ending was a little too smooth and “easy” for my taste…

This is a readable novel that transported me to this beautiful island, from Oia (interestingly the highest village in Santorini) to Therasia Island, Fira and Athinios, all whilst sampling the wonderful Greek food through vivid descriptions…eggplant moussaka, zucchini and grilled squid – it is a surprise that the characters aren’t all overweight, I would certainly pile on the pounds with this mouth-watering array of delicacies over a couple of days. Sunsets (as in the title), gleaming white buildings, diamond glinting sea, it’s all there for a trip to Santorini via fiction. Even the fabulous Hotel Katikies (which exists in real life) and the “best” tavern on the island, the Sirtaki Tavern both get a look-in.

In Anita’s previous novels I have felt that her writing is rather let down by the editing team behind her work and it is still to some extent the case in this new novel Santorini Sunsets. Yes, some typos, but I could have screamed at the number of times that Francis’s hair is described as “salt-and-pepper” (surely some of these needed editing out?). Small details proved a little irksome, the British do not eat candy (they eat sweets); the Australians would probably laugh long and loudly at anyone who suggests that they are Marmite eaters (it’s Vegemite for the Antipodeans – it’s similar but culturally like chalk and cheese) and the British do not call Kate (as in William and Kate) Princess Kate, it is still colloquially Kate Middleton and she is in fact a Duchess. Edit out these idiosyncrasies and the book certainly passes muster and makes for a very pleasant and relaxing read, perfect by the pool in Santorini – or at home by the fire to savour the sun of Santorini through fiction.

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