Lead Review

• Book: Swallowtail Summer
• Location: Norfolk Broads
• Author: Erica James

Review Author: tripfiction

When Alistair Lucas was seven years old, he was sent to spend the summer with his aunt Cora at Linston End, a beautiful and imposing thatched house perched on the water’s edge, in the Norfolk Broads. He fell in love with the house, the Broads and the lifestyle it offered him, a love affair that was to last his entire life. Summer after summer he returned, bringing his two closest friends, Danny and Simon with him and the boys cemented their friendship while roaming the countryside, swimming and boating on the Broads. In due course, the boys grew up and married and continued to spend their summers at Linston End, bringing their wives and children, who also learned to enjoy the adventure and freedom that summers in the Norfolk Broads offered, in contrast to the restraints of their normal London life.

Erica James’ latest novel begins with Alistair, now sixty-two years old, returning to Linston End, after a nine months’ absence. Following the tragic death of his wife in a drowning accident, Alistair had taken himself off to travel and is returning with some dramatic news. He has met a new woman and fallen head over heels in love and intends selling Linston End and settling somewhere new with Valentina. His announcement is met with horror; no one wants their routine to change, but everyone tries to welcome Valentina and to be happy for Alistair. However, under the façade of harmonious family life secrets lurk and Valentina’s arrival, with her two grown up step children, begins a series of dramatic events that exposes the less than savoury truth.

Swallowtail Summer gives the reader a real taste of life in the Norfolk Broads – from picnics by the water, gin and tonics at sunset whilst watching the boats drift by, wonderful glimpses of rare wildlife, such as the elusive swallowtail butterfly and adventures on the water. It is an idyllic life in the main, although James also ensures that we are reminded of the dangers that life on the water presents; it is not all sunshine – there are some dramatic, dark scenes at night in dangerous water, which provide a satisfying contrast.

Erica James is a very experienced and skilful writer whose novels rarely disappoint. This novel gets off to a bit of a slow start, but once Valentina arrives it certainly picks up the pace and builds to a very exciting and dramatic tale. James’ characters are always well rounded and believable and I particularly enjoyed the less appealing characters. Awful Valentina and her appalling step children are a delight.

All in all, this is a great read, providing an uplifting and heartening exploration of love and friendship and gives the reader cause to ponder what ultimately makes life worth living.

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