With Copper, Elise Noble gifts her readers with an irresistible, funny, witty comedy with a sting. A good part of the book is utterly hilarious. The protagonist, the very British Taisiya Hermione Beaulieu, aka Tai, is a smart, clever, and resourceful young woman disguised under an insecure and awkward persona. Her witty lines of thought frame the thread of the story.
Copper is also a book about choices. The story begins when Tai suddenly decides to leave her dull and frustrating job and fly to Egypt. Two men gravitate around her, the geeky Russell and the arrogant Ren. Every few chapters, Tai has to decide what comes next, either following her newly found independence or going back to her old conservative approach. The result is a story full of twists and turns, that amuses and involves the reader, who cannot avoid taking sides at each turning point. Suddenly, around the middle of the book, the plot takes a dramatic spin, turning into a fast-paced action thriller. Quite unexpectedly, Emmy makes her appearance, jumping into the action and getting it sorted her way. A sweet and delicate interlude of Bradley comforting his boyfriend Miles is a most welcome cameo episode. Finally, a masterfully crafted and entirely satisfactorily ending leaves the reader amused and pleased.
Overall, Copper is a combination of many genres, with a rich plot and a full cast of intriguing characters. A slate of secondary but skilfully depicted personas enriches the setting of the story to the point that the reader feels immersed in the noise and the heat of an authentic Egyptian town. As a result, the book fascinates, involves, and intrigues while taking its readers on an exotic vacation, leaving them dreamy and looking forward to the next episode.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. Opinions and comments are solely my own