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Searching for Amber
When Jade, a passionate young photographer, is attacked by drug pushers and saved by the brooding shipwright Martin, she becomes increasingly obsessed with her reluctant hero’s tragic back-story. Her pursuit of Martin’s affection and her consequent obsessive search for Martin’s lost sister, Amber, ultimately leads Jade to discover the truth about her own mother, who abandoned her as a baby in the late 1950s, and the tragic events that led to her disappearance.
The inner lives of the main characters, their friends and the forces of sea and storm that confound them, unfold and intertwine over three distinct time periods; 1950s Aldeburgh, late 1970/80s Suffolk, and 1990s London and Essex, where they eventually reunite.
Searching for Amber is an engaging exploration of love, violence, betrayal and loss, told through beautiful writing, natural imagery and poetry. It is a story that takes into its sweep the breathtaking seascapes of Britten’s Suffolk, the rural idyll of Coggeshall and its Martyrs, and the brash vibrancy of Thatcher’s London. In creating this lyrical tale, David Smith has been inspired by Benjamin Britten’s Four Sea Interludes, Graham Greene’s Brighton Rock and Shakespeare’s The Tempest, as well as his memories of romantic weekends spent in Aldeburgh with his wife.
This book will appeal to romantics with a love of the sea, and those with an interest in history, art and music.
The inner lives of the main characters, their friends and the forces of sea and storm that confound them, unfold and intertwine over three distinct time periods; 1950s Aldeburgh, late 1970/80s Suffolk, and 1990s London and Essex, where they eventually reunite.
Searching for Amber is an engaging exploration of love, violence, betrayal and loss, told through beautiful writing, natural imagery and poetry. It is a story that takes into its sweep the breathtaking seascapes of Britten’s Suffolk, the rural idyll of Coggeshall and its Martyrs, and the brash vibrancy of Thatcher’s London. In creating this lyrical tale, David Smith has been inspired by Benjamin Britten’s Four Sea Interludes, Graham Greene’s Brighton Rock and Shakespeare’s The Tempest, as well as his memories of romantic weekends spent in Aldeburgh with his wife.
This book will appeal to romantics with a love of the sea, and those with an interest in history, art and music.
272 pages, Paperback
First published April 2, 2014
2 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
David Smith
4 books56 followersDescribed as an exciting voice in Contemporary Literature, David Smith has published four novels all with strong themes of romance and intrigue. His first novel Searching For Amber has been described as "A powerful and notably memorable debut" with a review describing it as "masterly and confident" and another as "Extraordinary, poetic, enchanting, sublime". His latest novel Letters to Strabo has been described as "Rich and intriguing, vivid and gripping". In addition to writing, he is currently a blue chip Chief Financial Officer and lives in West Sussex with his wife and three teenage children.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 2, 2016
Searching for Amber by David Smith is a work of literary fiction. I have to declare an interest in that I read and reviewed this as a Goodreads Giveaway. I don’t enter these regularly, it is an occasional thing when I have little to do and as I was nursing a broken ankle I had time on my hands. I like to be adventurous with my reading and while most of the blurbs on Giveaways tell half the plot, this one drew my attention because it had only one sentence.
“Under the fluid metal of a steel-blue sky,
the body of a young woman strokes silently through the dawn waves… “
The book could have been about anything but it sounded intriguing enough to warrant filling in a few details and several days letter I received an email to say I had won, followed the same week by a copy of the paperback. I was in the mood for a spot of late night reading, my Kindle batteries had gone flat too, so I started on my prize – and prize it was!
To start things rolling, this book will not please those readers who want fast and furious action, it is thoughtful, has a long exposition and descriptive passages, many of which are exquisitely written. The first chapters are apparently exposition and are full of the minutiae a visual artist would capture. The use of the present tense puts us very much in “the Now” as well as in the mind of Jade. It is those early chapters that introduce the basic premise and main characters of the story.
I don’t want to write a review that either tells the story or deals in spoilers, but the novel deals with the intimate and largely unknown links between these characters. There is much of loss and tragedy in these pages, love, betrayal and suicide are also themes. The shift between time periods is emphasized by shifts in tense between past and present. The author is fond of the present tense and handles it well. I was impressed by the way he draws action out in an almost dreamlike state. I also like the use of poetry.
It was only when I reached the end that I realized the perfect symmetry of the plot and how well that sentence “Under the fluid metal of a steel-blue sky, the body of a young woman strokes silently through the dawn waves… “ becomes a sort of leitmotiv for the work. The sea moves almost like a character itself throughout the story.
This is a book for readers who love thoughtful books that go that little more deeply into descriptions, motives and the interaction of character and landscape. I would recommend it to lovers of literary fiction and I am very grateful to have received a review copy of such a thoughtful work.
“Under the fluid metal of a steel-blue sky,
the body of a young woman strokes silently through the dawn waves… “
The book could have been about anything but it sounded intriguing enough to warrant filling in a few details and several days letter I received an email to say I had won, followed the same week by a copy of the paperback. I was in the mood for a spot of late night reading, my Kindle batteries had gone flat too, so I started on my prize – and prize it was!
To start things rolling, this book will not please those readers who want fast and furious action, it is thoughtful, has a long exposition and descriptive passages, many of which are exquisitely written. The first chapters are apparently exposition and are full of the minutiae a visual artist would capture. The use of the present tense puts us very much in “the Now” as well as in the mind of Jade. It is those early chapters that introduce the basic premise and main characters of the story.
I don’t want to write a review that either tells the story or deals in spoilers, but the novel deals with the intimate and largely unknown links between these characters. There is much of loss and tragedy in these pages, love, betrayal and suicide are also themes. The shift between time periods is emphasized by shifts in tense between past and present. The author is fond of the present tense and handles it well. I was impressed by the way he draws action out in an almost dreamlike state. I also like the use of poetry.
It was only when I reached the end that I realized the perfect symmetry of the plot and how well that sentence “Under the fluid metal of a steel-blue sky, the body of a young woman strokes silently through the dawn waves… “ becomes a sort of leitmotiv for the work. The sea moves almost like a character itself throughout the story.
This is a book for readers who love thoughtful books that go that little more deeply into descriptions, motives and the interaction of character and landscape. I would recommend it to lovers of literary fiction and I am very grateful to have received a review copy of such a thoughtful work.
May 30, 2014
The first chapter had me hooked, the story is beautifully described and I found myself thoroughly absorbed into the storyline. I choose this as my weekly commute read and it proved a great choice. I may just be a reader but from I do read extensively and I think Searching For Amber is an excellent debut novel.
April 29, 2014
I found this novel beautiful, dreamlike and beguiling as it relates the tale of a search for a lost family member, shifting the action back and forth through a number of time periods between the early 1950’s and the present day. The search for the truth of Jade’s parentage has a haunting quality, as the author progressively opens up the lives of the people most closely involved; Crow and Sarah, Thomas and Ralph, Martin and Peter, and Sam.
One of the most outstanding elements of the book for me is David Smith's evocative descriptive writing. The account of the storm at sea is utterly compelling, as are the sensuous descriptions of the countryside and the seascape, which are to be found both within the narrative, and in the form of poetry interspersed between scenes. The novel has a strong sense of place, and made me feel I was there in Felixstowe, and by the Martello Tower; I could see, hear, smell, taste and feel the atmosphere of the environment the author describes.
The novel has a bittersweet ending, which I particularly like. I find 100% happy endings slightly unsatisfactory, when every thread is tied up; and likewise I don’t enjoy endings which betray a lack of faith in life and in human nature. I do like to find an epiphany at the end of a story; but a true epiphany works best when it carries within it all the consequences of human weakness and failings. In this story, tragedy , loss and new hope work together, to create a poignant and yet uplifting conclusion.
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One of the most outstanding elements of the book for me is David Smith's evocative descriptive writing. The account of the storm at sea is utterly compelling, as are the sensuous descriptions of the countryside and the seascape, which are to be found both within the narrative, and in the form of poetry interspersed between scenes. The novel has a strong sense of place, and made me feel I was there in Felixstowe, and by the Martello Tower; I could see, hear, smell, taste and feel the atmosphere of the environment the author describes.
The novel has a bittersweet ending, which I particularly like. I find 100% happy endings slightly unsatisfactory, when every thread is tied up; and likewise I don’t enjoy endings which betray a lack of faith in life and in human nature. I do like to find an epiphany at the end of a story; but a true epiphany works best when it carries within it all the consequences of human weakness and failings. In this story, tragedy , loss and new hope work together, to create a poignant and yet uplifting conclusion.
No press coverage has been uploaded for this title
Be the first to review this book
December 16, 2014
Beautifully written story. Won in a goodreads giveaway, but really pleased to have had the chance to read this.
July 13, 2014
Jade does not see the world like everyone else.
A photographer by trade, she sees it more clearly through the lens of her camera. She is tough but takes photographs that show people as they really are, stripping the walls down and laying what she sees bare.
Abandoned by her mother and raised by her adoptive parents, Jade has always felt that a piece of her was missing. Only truly happy when she is creating, Jade trudges through the world, looking for that lost piece of herself. She feels alone in her village, unaware that the answers she seeks to her past are closer than she thought possible.
When she is brutally attacked, she is saved by a Martin, a boatyard worker of very few words. Jade is captivated by him and what secrets he may hold in his past. He walks with an air of sadness and Jade means to find out what is behind it.
Jade is drawn in by Martin and becomes obsessed with him. She yearns to dig underneath his skin and find out what is there. As they get closer, Martin finally tells her what happened to create the air of sadness that surrounds him.
Years ago, his sister Amber, left home. He has never seen her again. Also, his father had a tragedy while at sea. He lost both is father and his sister in on fell swoop and has never been the same. The sea took both of them from him. Though he is afraid of what the water can bring, he works at the boatyard; in that way, he is close to both of them.
Wanting to delve further into the mystery, Jade offers to help Martin find his missing sister. What they learn will change both of their lives forever…
I was blown away and left breathless by Searching for Jade.
First, because the writing is so incredible. It’s very literary in style but draws the reader in with the beauty of it’s words. I was expecting a novel I could rush though but the language slows you down as you want to make sure to read every gorgeous word. There is very little dialogue in the book, but that’s one of the novels strong points.
David Smith brings Jade and Martin’s world to life on the page until you feel as if you are inside the book, with the characters in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, London and Essex. Never before have I read such incredible writing. Smith puts more power in one sentence than many writers are able to capture in one page.
It also has pieces of poetry, dialogue and conversation sprinkled through out to serve as scene breaks or internal thoughts of the characters that help bring the reader further into the story. As the story moves from the present to the past, we are pulled even deeper as more of the story is revealed.
The characters are also engaging. Jade is a tough and life-hardened protagonist that is at once likeable and compelling. Martin is almost broodish, tortured and yet kind. You yearn for these characters and connect with them so completely. I felt I knew them, all of them, when the novel was over. Their lives were bared for us on the page as the story moved to it’s incredible conclusion.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been so entranced by a novel. I took my time reading this as I didn’t want it to end. When I finished it, I was actually left with an ache in my stomach. David Smith doesn’t just tell you a story. In Searching for Amber, he has given the reader a journey.
An absolutely incredible book beautifully told. Begin the search for Amber yourself and fall under the books spell.
A photographer by trade, she sees it more clearly through the lens of her camera. She is tough but takes photographs that show people as they really are, stripping the walls down and laying what she sees bare.
Abandoned by her mother and raised by her adoptive parents, Jade has always felt that a piece of her was missing. Only truly happy when she is creating, Jade trudges through the world, looking for that lost piece of herself. She feels alone in her village, unaware that the answers she seeks to her past are closer than she thought possible.
When she is brutally attacked, she is saved by a Martin, a boatyard worker of very few words. Jade is captivated by him and what secrets he may hold in his past. He walks with an air of sadness and Jade means to find out what is behind it.
Jade is drawn in by Martin and becomes obsessed with him. She yearns to dig underneath his skin and find out what is there. As they get closer, Martin finally tells her what happened to create the air of sadness that surrounds him.
Years ago, his sister Amber, left home. He has never seen her again. Also, his father had a tragedy while at sea. He lost both is father and his sister in on fell swoop and has never been the same. The sea took both of them from him. Though he is afraid of what the water can bring, he works at the boatyard; in that way, he is close to both of them.
Wanting to delve further into the mystery, Jade offers to help Martin find his missing sister. What they learn will change both of their lives forever…
I was blown away and left breathless by Searching for Jade.
First, because the writing is so incredible. It’s very literary in style but draws the reader in with the beauty of it’s words. I was expecting a novel I could rush though but the language slows you down as you want to make sure to read every gorgeous word. There is very little dialogue in the book, but that’s one of the novels strong points.
David Smith brings Jade and Martin’s world to life on the page until you feel as if you are inside the book, with the characters in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, London and Essex. Never before have I read such incredible writing. Smith puts more power in one sentence than many writers are able to capture in one page.
It also has pieces of poetry, dialogue and conversation sprinkled through out to serve as scene breaks or internal thoughts of the characters that help bring the reader further into the story. As the story moves from the present to the past, we are pulled even deeper as more of the story is revealed.
The characters are also engaging. Jade is a tough and life-hardened protagonist that is at once likeable and compelling. Martin is almost broodish, tortured and yet kind. You yearn for these characters and connect with them so completely. I felt I knew them, all of them, when the novel was over. Their lives were bared for us on the page as the story moved to it’s incredible conclusion.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been so entranced by a novel. I took my time reading this as I didn’t want it to end. When I finished it, I was actually left with an ache in my stomach. David Smith doesn’t just tell you a story. In Searching for Amber, he has given the reader a journey.
An absolutely incredible book beautifully told. Begin the search for Amber yourself and fall under the books spell.
November 2, 2014
This is a wonderfully crafted piece of literary fiction. Intense, confusing and sensual, it is simply an impressive novel. The description is beautifully crafted and never loses momentum; high quality writing remains throughout. I loved the plot (and personally, I thought it got better as the novel went on), and found it original and captivating.
I never give away spoilers in reviews, but Smith absolutely deserves the great critical acclaim he is receiving, and the many positive reviews. I would certainly recommend this novel.
I received this book as part of Goodreads Firstreads programme, and I am grateful to the author, the publisher and to Goodreads for sending it to me.
I never give away spoilers in reviews, but Smith absolutely deserves the great critical acclaim he is receiving, and the many positive reviews. I would certainly recommend this novel.
I received this book as part of Goodreads Firstreads programme, and I am grateful to the author, the publisher and to Goodreads for sending it to me.
November 14, 2014
What I enjoyed about this book most was the descriptive language, I actually was there in many parts of the story, the attention to detail, for example mentioning red clarks sandals took me to a time in my past when everyone wore these.
The plot flowed well, although initially you need to concentrate, I amnot a fanof books that tell a story in any order but chronological, but I reisited the desire to read the pages in date order according to the story, instead reading as the author intended.
I didn't warm to Jade, but the mystery of the story kept me going and I did very much enjoy it.
The plot flowed well, although initially you need to concentrate, I amnot a fanof books that tell a story in any order but chronological, but I reisited the desire to read the pages in date order according to the story, instead reading as the author intended.
I didn't warm to Jade, but the mystery of the story kept me going and I did very much enjoy it.
November 9, 2014
A beautifully written tale of interwoven lives searching for family. The story spans a number of decades, but I never felt lost when reading it. The plot was well thought out, and I was gripped to find out the truth about Amber. However, the real star of the book is the sea itself. David Smith creates wonderful imagery of the coast and its powerful effect on those who live by it.
I was fortunate enough to win a copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaway, and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
I was fortunate enough to win a copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaway, and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
July 13, 2014
I received this book through Goodreads First Reads. It is exquisitely written, beautifully descriptive and quite dreamy in the images it provokes. I admit it's not my usual style of book and took me a couple of chapters to get into the style of writing. But all in all worth reading. I give it a generous 4 out of 5 due to its beautifully descriptive finer details that many books lack.
June 14, 2014
A very beautifully written story. There is depth to this book that has you thinking about it even after you set it down. I enjoyed the descriptiveness of the writing. The flipping between time eras actually added to the story.
October 20, 2014
I received a copy of this book through Goodreads, and I'm so pleased I did. It was a fabulous read and had me totally engrossed. Beautifully written and evocative.....(I did shed a few tears reading it!)
June 3, 2014
The descriptive elements to Searching For Amber are quite exquisite and bring fully formed evocative imagery to mind. The plot is very well conceived and thoughtfully executed over different eras but I never felt lost as the story unfolded. David Smith has won me over!
July 21, 2014
Great story kept me engrossed to the end would really reccomend to anyone who truly loves to sit with a cuppa and a book for a enjoyable evening
September 1, 2014
This novel is a work of literary fiction and as such is richly textured, intense, almost cinematic in nature.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews