Black Light

by K.A. Bedford

Ruth Black is an English novelist left widowed by the mysterious death of her husband during the Great War. She immigrates to Australia and settles in the sleepy coastal town of Pelican River to repair her broken heart and work on her next novel.

But her quiet life is thrown into disarray when Aunt Julia arrives with an urgent, dreadful message. Ruth’s life is in danger and the threat is from a source not entirely of this world. With the assistance of her butler Rutherford, and her good friend the inventor Gordon Duncombe, Ruth finds herself caught up in a hair-raising race to defy her impending doom.

Genres: Fantasy

332 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2015

Reviews

[Carol Ryles · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Black Light" is a supernatural thriller that kept me guessing all the way through. It's not a fast-pace read, but is certainly intriguing. I loved the way the characters came to life as the supernatural events gradually unfold, at first with a touch of strange that soon becomes creepy, then scary, rising to terrifying crescendo and an unpredictable and most satisfying end. I loved the setting of the fictitious town of Pelican River (possibly Mandurah) in the 1920s South of Perth. I loved how the main character, Ruth's, voice brought the era to life and how her progressive and eccentric ways worked both for and against her during her interactions with friends and enemies alike.The supporting characters were sometimes fun, sometimes (pleasingly) puzzling and sometimes despicable. I especially liked Gordon and his cameo time machine, which at first seems a zany diversion in a supernatural thriller, but as the plot progresses seems perfectly logical as the boundary between science and the occult blurs.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

So interesting, after reading Bedford's previous (also very good) novels, which were all science fiction and set in the future, mostly including space travel and/or time travel, to read this - a supernatural mystery set in Western Australia in the 1920s, where most of the travel was done in lovely early 20th century cars (plus some travel, by unknown means, in unfamiliar realms...)
Black Light has something of the flavour of the works of English lady novelists such as Elizabeth Bowen - appropriately enough, as the central character is an English gentlewoman and a writer (of scientific romances - an early name for science fiction).
I was captivated by Ruth Black and her peaceful life in Pelican River, soon to be disrupted by her Aunt Julia's fears for Ruth's life. the solving of the mystery takes Ruth, her household, and her friend Gordon Duncombe into dark, dangerous places, and leads to discoveries both spooky and sad.
Not sure how I feel about the resolution of who Ruth's enemy is, or what happens to that person. I kind of wanted it to be something or someone grander behind it all. it's big, but not grand, if you see what I mean.
some great scenes along the way, though, with revelations about just how much the supernatural world is interlinked with the mundane, and aspects of paranormal beings that I hadn't encountered before, but were very convincing and moving...

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is starkly different from Bedford's previous novels. Here, the setting is historical, and while there is a hat-tip to the earlier Spider Webb time-travelling tales, the magic here is largely supernatural, rather than of a scientific-imagining ilk.

What remains a constant in this and the author's previous works, however, is his clear affection for his protagonist, and that affection is contagious. Bedford likes to send his characters to hell and back, and he ensures that we go there and back with them. Initially beguiling in style, the tone of Black Light soon becomes eerie and then disturbing.

A delight.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

*THIS WAS A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY*

I found the setting and the characters interesting. The further I got into the book the more was revealed about the characters and their motivations behind why they did the things they did. That is their traits and flaws etc. The supernatural aspect of the book was different to other books with supernatural theme and that helped to keep my interest as well. Overall I enjoyed the book and the style of writing in an area of Australia I had a little familiarity with despite the fact it was set in the 1920s. After reading book this I am interested in reading more by this author.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway and absolutely adore the cover, I'll admit however to struggling a bit with the book, partly because it was a newish genre to me (I've not read a lot in the paranormal vein) but also because I couldn't quite 'get' Ruth's approach to the paranormal (easily accepting some aspects and stridently arguing against, before exploring, others).

There was much to intrigue and attract in the book, but for me, almost too much going on to make this an easy read.

[Claire Miller]

I love it but I represent the book publisher.

[Graham Clements · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel is set in the 1920's in a small fishing town in Western Australia. At first I thought it was going to be a conventional thriller, how I could have thought that having read some of Bedford's other fantastic speculative fiction, I don't know. There are elves, demons and magic, in this alternative vision of times gone by. My left-wing ideals had me thinking I was not going to like the relatively wealthy, upper class protaganist Ruth Black, but in the end I was very concerned about her prospects of survival. This is a tribute to the writing skills of the author. If you like thrillers with a supernatural bent, you will probably enjoy this novel.

[Ann Tonks · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought I could survive the supernatural stuff (not my favourite genre) because it was set in Western Australia but not even that could keep me going. i just don't care enough about elves and ghosts.

[Maureen]

I am a judge for the 2015 Aurealis Awards. This review is my personal opinion and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team. To be safe, I won't be recording my thoughts (if I choose to) here until after the Aurealis Awards are over.

[Toby · Rating 1 out of 5]

I shall say nothing bad because I'll end up being mean and I don't want to be mean to this author.

[Bookcaffe Swanbourne · Rating 3 out of 5]

For all Perth based readers of this book, you're invited to meet the author for a book club Q and A on Thursday May 28th at 2pm. RSVP recommended.

https://www.facebook.com/events/56272...