Review: A Madness of Sunshine

A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Exciting new direction as Ms. Singh explores a new genre - contemporary romantic suspense. From the first few pages, I'm drawn into the story. I'm pulled into this tale because Anahera is a tragically damaged woman looking to find her way home. The start of the story reminds me of one of the movies I loved by Kryzsztof Kieslowski, Bleu. Anahera is a woman betrayed by a husband who was her entire world. To find that he had another life shatters her. The manner in which she finds out is a horrible stab into her heart. With Anahera as the lead character, I believed she was the Sunshine referenced in the title. She is yet she is not. I enjoyed what Ms. Singh did here with plot twists and characters different than they original appeared.

In her Psy-Changling series, Ms. Singh already started to delve into the suspense, murder and thriller elements. Transitioning into a contemporary romance is a natural progression. I cannot wait to see if she continues with this genre. What I enjoyed is the depth of the background of the main characters. Anahera and Will both have lived life with a fair share of pain and disappointment. Their rising from the ashes more than once shows their strength. The scars they bear are revealed at just the right moments throughout the tale. There is a large cast of characters in this story and at times it may be a bit hard to remember all of them. It could be possible that the wider range of secondary characters is used to create more tension and mystery. This is plot device works but is not the tightest method for a murder-mystery. I still liked seeing all these secondary characters because it demonstrated the kind of community Anahera came from. In addition, it shows how so many people are interconnected yet they can still keep a dark secret.

This story starts out poignant and takes a dark turn. The ugly truths of people's lives once exposed are unable to be forgotten or forgiven. Amidst the gloom and depression, a budding light of a new beginning blossoms between Anahera and Will. This helps balance the sadness. What really lightened and darkened the mood at the same time is the young woman who disappeared. She is a beacon of kindness and great potential in this small isolated village. People's memories of her and the artwork she leaves behind make her that much more special. It also reminds every one of just how much they lost. This story of loss entwined with life in rural costal New Zealand invokes a powerfully moving story. Whilst this is a suspense, for me, it is more a journey of a life well lived and a great potential stolen before its time. The feelings of longing, grief and sorrow Ms. Singh pulls out of me exhausts me by the end of this tale. I loved it. I felt put through the proverbial wringer.

This emotion packed romantic suspense is high recommended to readers who enjoy angst combined with a sliver of hope.

*provided by NetGalley