The Puppet Master

by Emma Clark Lam

A DARK ROMANCE... A jealous husband, a wife torn between duty and her desire for a more fulfilling life. Maggie has made bad choices along the way, but does she deserve a second chance? In the dangerous and exotic world of 1970s Jakarta, she's about to risk everything to follow her heart. What everyone's saying about The Puppet "I read this book for my book club and we all loved it. A brilliant thriller, perfect for a holiday read or a rainy day." - Florence Phillips, Goodreads "Devoured in three sittings as the story gathered pace and became increasingly tense." - SLC, Amazon "Emma is such a talented writer and her books are easy to read as they flow so smoothly that you quickly become engrossed in the story." - Annabel, CountryWives "This is a confident, well-structured novel with developed characters in an interesting setting. The climax, which I have been at pains not to disclose, is powerful and heartbreaking." - Alison Gomm, The Brown Book (LMH, University of Oxford) "I thought the author captured the essence of ex pat life really well. I felt the anguish of the lead character thoughout the book and was eager to find out what happened to her." - Jen, Amazon "A really gripping read. From the start I struggled to put the book down." - Amazon customer The year is 1977 and Maggie, the wife of a diplomat, arrives back in Indonesia after a summer away. She has two young daughters she adores, a successful husband and an exotic home complete with staff, so why does she feel a sense of foreboding? Trapped in an unhappy marriage, Maggie faces a bleak future until a strange accident forces her to take stock. Amid the social whirl of expat Jakarta, she finds herself dangerously attracted to Doug, an inscrutable geologist from Aberdeen… Gripping and insightful, The Puppet Master is a story about forbidden love, violent passions and the inexorable wheels of fate. Is Maggie doomed to fail, or does she have another shot at happiness? A compelling read for fans of Maggie O'Farrell, Liane Moriarty and Jojo Moyes.

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2016

About the author

I am an author, journalist and blogger. When I am not walking the dog, I spend my time writing and reading books! I have published two books on Amazon's Kindle: romantic thriller The Puppet Master and family saga A Sister for Margot.

'The Pupper Master' on Amazon

This is the story of young woman who has made some bad choices along the way and is now staring her future in the face. Does she deserve a second chance? Living in the exotic and dangerous world of 1970s Indonesia, Maggie is about to change her life, one way or another.


'A Sister for Margot' on Amazon

The book is about three headstrong women - an actress in the 1940s, a modern-day housewife and an orphaned teenager - all of whom defy the conventions of their day. They are bound together by a wartime scandal that touches each of their lives.

On my website, I blog about novels, travel, parenting, wellbeing and anything that piques my curiosity. Sometimes it’s a matter of opinion and other times it is a flight of fictional fancy.

In a former life, I worked for BBC News Online as a business journalist and features writer. I also studied English Literature at Oxford University.

Reviews

[Billy Buttons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: The Puppet Master
Author: Emma Clark Lam

Star Rating: 3.5 Stars
Number of Readers: 16
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 7/10
Of the 16 readers:
13 would read another book by this author.
12 thought the cover was good or excellent.
16 felt it was easy to follow.
13 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
8 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
8 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
14 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
13 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
‘The setting it what helps to make this novel worthy of reading. Very interesting and, often, very well described.’ Male reader, aged 65
‘Good thriller. The ending was excellent. Always fun to read a book by an author who understands how important it is to end BIG!’ Female reader. aged 42
‘Maggie is by far the most interesting character. The lonely diplomat’s wife has tremendous depth. The author, I think, understands what it like to live in a different country. Lively writing style, slightly slow in parts, but all in all very entertaining.’ Female reader, aged 61
‘Not the most cheerful story in the world. Still, it’s well-written. I was engrossed.’ Male reader, aged 39

To Sum It Up:
‘A gripping novel of forbidden love. A red ribbon winner and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Florence Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who do you turn to when the perfect life is just a facade? Domestic violence can happen even in the most idyllic environment and privileged families. This chilling tale of a dysfunctional and abusive marriage between two deeply flawed characters is set against the background of 1978's Jakarta expat community, lovingly brought back to life by the author who lived there as a child. The writing is subtle and skilful, and the complexities of emotional and psychological abuse are depicted with great realism and honesty. From glitzy parties and afternoons by the Club pool to sordid machinations and betrayal, the story builds slowly up to its unavoidable and heartbreaking conclusion.
I read this book for my book club and we all loved it. A brilliant thriller, perfect for a holiday read or a rainy day.

[George Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite an enjoyable read with an authentic feel to ex-pat life in Jakarta.