26.7.13

Book Review: Someday I'll Find You by Richard Madeley

James Blackwell is handsome, sexy, with an element of mystery about him. He's a fighter pilot- every girl's dream. At least that is what Diana Arnold thinks when her brother John first introduces them. They marry in haste, one summer morning in 1940, and Diana is still wearing her wedding dress when her new husband and John are summoned back to base to fly their next, terrifying mission.
Then fate delivers what is the first of its cruel twists; James, that very day is show down over Northern France. Diana is left a widow- and pregnant with their child.
Ten years later, living in the South of France with her new husband and a daughter who will never know her real father. Diana is content and flourishing in the Provençal sunshine. Until one morning, sipping her coffee in the town square, she hears something that makes her blood run cold: the voice of someone who will set out to torment her and blackmail her, and from whom there can only be one means of escape...
Someday I'll Find You is a brilliant fictional debut from Richard Madeley. I don't read many books by male authors but I am a big fan of Richard and Judy so I was intrigued.
Diana Arnold is drawn to James Blackwell when they are introduced by her brother who is in the same flying squadron. They have a whirlwind romance and marry in the summer of 1940. However, fate intervenes  and James is shot down on their wedding night. Diana finds herself a pregnant widow, one of many women in that situation at the time. Ten years later, Diana is living in the South of France with her new husband. One morning in the village square she hears the voice of James Blackwell, but he died more than a decade ago, if not then where has he been all this time?
I was completely riveted by the story as it unfolded. Richard Madeley jumps back between the past and the present. We learn about how Diana and James met and Diana's life after the war. James really is a horrible character; Richard Madeley has created such an interesting villain. Diana's initial excitement at hearing his voice again soon turns to disbelief  as to how she could ever have married and lo
ved such a man.
I enjoyed Madeley's writing style, his chapters are short and snappy and I read this book over a couple of days, really struggling to put it down on several occasions.
Someday I'll Find You is a refreshing take on a classic World War II love story; Richard Madeley questions how you would feel if your loved ones did come back from the dead, especially if you don't really know the true person.
I will definitely read Richard Madeley's books in the future, he has a real knack for story-telling and I highly recommend this book.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5
Pages: 416
Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Many thanks to Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of the book to review, it is out now!

4 comments:

Jo said...

I am looking forward to reading this. Another one to add to the pile.

Nikki - Notes of Life said...

It's a great book, isn't it? I liked the sound of it when I saw Richard being interviewed on BBC Breakfast one morning. Simon & Schuster then kindly sent me the book and I sat reading it that very morning. I can't wait to see what Richard comes up with next.

jessicabookworm said...

I really like the sound of this book. Sounds like a perfect read for these hot Summer days we've been having.

Dot said...

Jo- I hope you like it!
Nikki-ann I know, I hope he writes more fiction.
Jessicabookworm- it is perfect for a hot summer's day!

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