Thriller set on Roatán (Honduras/the Caribbean) – “..edgy, dark and heady..”
- Book: After The Storm
- Location: Belize, Caribbean, Honduras, Roatán
- Author: Jane Lythell
This thriller caught my eye as it kept popping up on Social Media and of course, not many books are set in and around this particular island, the largest of Honduras’ Bay Islands, in the Caribbean. It is 77 km long and about 8 km wide, with plenty of mangroves and has the real sense of an exotic location.
The author has a feel for maintaining tension and writes in a very natural and fluid way. As she ratchets up the pathos, the story feels increasingly edgy, dark and heady.
Kim and Owen own a rather rickety wooden sailing boat, and Anna and Rob are persuaded to join them on the journey from Belize City to Roatán, although neither couple knows anything much about the other couple. They only met 24 hours previously. Anna is not altogether keen, but Rob is caught up in the Robinson Crusoe fantasy and embraces the adventure wholeheartedly. On the voyage the friendships between the four build, although tinted by the beginnings of hostility and suspicion, and individual backstories start to emerge. Life is generally harmonious for the four young people in their very cramped, and at times oppressive lodgings, but the stress of storms and other dangers begin to whittle away at the contended – and potentially blissful – lifestyle as they head towards their ultimate destination. Plenty of palm fringed islands pop up on the way, and some wonderfully tasty sounding food materialises in the capable hands of Kim (find out the best way to eat a mango, for example). Little insights into both the sailing life and local customs make this very much a three dimensional and gripping read. But from the cover and title it is clear that this is not going to be an easy ride, plenty of literal and metaphorical waves along the way.
The author is clearly very familiar with the island and through her capable hands I felt that I was there with the characters as they explored the enclaves of French Harbour, Oak Ridge and Coxen Hole, and acclimatise to island life, which is idyllic in many ways but also has a dark under-culture that is never far away. Attend a group baptism, laze on a beach or learn some of the ropes of sailing… or simply kick back and read this gripping thriller.
This review first appeared on our blog. The author talks to us about location…
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