Lucky's

by Andrew Pippos

Lucky's is a story of family.

It is also about a man called Lucky.
His restaurant chain.
A fire that changed everything.
A New Yorker article which might save a career.
The mystery of a missing father.
An impostor who got the girl.
An unthinkable tragedy.
A roll of the dice.
And a story of love, lost, sought and won again, (at last).

Genres: Fiction, Australia, Book Club, Audiobook, Contemporary, Historical Fiction, Novels

368 pages, Paperback

First published October 27, 2020

Reviews

[PattyMacDotComma · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5★
“2002. He still had time to make changes. Not to his nickname, which he could never shake, and not to his appearance, and there was little prospect of changing the flaws in his character, since the time had passed for great internal transformations, but Vasilis ‘Lucky’ Mallios supposed he could fix his own story—to be specific, how it ended.”

This is the opening paragraph of the book. The year 2002 is also the year that Emily, a writer (subeditor, as her mother insists on calling her) flies from her home in London to Sydney to research an article for 'The New Yorker' (she hopes). Her mother was born and raised in Australia, but Emily has only ever visited as a child, and that did not go well.

I could keep track of Emily’s story, but I seemed to have a terrible time with the other characters on Lucky’s side of the background. The year of the action is given at the beginning of many chapters, but even referring back to them didn’t seem to orient me very well.

I often read books with multiple timelines, but for some reason, I began confusing the characters, the young men with their older selves, the women and wives and daughters with each other. The first Greek migrant in the book arrives in Sydney in 1913, and from there the action moves back and forth before and after WW2, to the 1960s and to 2002.

Emily wants to know about her real father, but her mother wouldn’t talk about him.

“At home, in her bedroom, hung a small painting of a Lucky’s restaurant, a picture made by her late father, copied from a postcard, and given to Emily for her seventh birthday.”

That’s enough to inspire her to set off to Sydney. The story bounces around between how the first Lucky’s was built (not called Lucky’s), how Lucky happened to end up with it, and what happened to the various families.

There are several descriptions which struck me as if they’d been saved to work into a piece of writing, but they seemed to be trying too hard.

“The expansive new apartment complex opposite looked like a tower with its pockets turned out. Lucky’s own building reminded him of a motor inn.
. . .
The terrace houses were painted egg-carton colours. Each of the pre-tuned radio stations shouted at her. Lucky lived under the flight path, on a long street in the suburb of Tempe. The parked cars were the colour of dirty running shoes.
. . .
Lucky lived in a four-storey apartment building with shirt-pocket balconies of rendered concrete.”

I’m sure this book will find many fans, and I can imagine a film version of it with a cast that would separate the characters for the likes of me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan/Picador for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted.

[Neale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vasilis Mallios is not living up to his nickname of “Lucky” when he is knocked back by the bank in his loan application. Maybe he was relying on his nickname because his financial situation almost guaranteed his rejection. The bank loans officer remembers the “Lucky’s” restaurant chain that Vasilis used to own. Vasilis, “Lucky”, is a Greek American who migrated to Sydney after the war. Lucky built up an empire of restaurants but lost them all. The reason for the loan application is to start a new restaurant.

Michael and Emily had been married seven years, happily, not so much, when Michael told her he was having an affair. Married for one year less than the job she had been made redundant from last year. No valid reason offered, downsizing the euphemism. Just thanks, and you are no longer needed.

Emily was a subeditor at “The Independent”. After finding no work she comes up with an idea to write a story about the rise and fall of Lucky’s franchise. She pitches the story to a friend at “The New Yorker” and is genuinely surprised when her friend likes the idea.

What makes the story interesting is a shooting in one of the restaurants, or cafes as they came to be called, in which nine people were killed. It took place in the last café that Lucky owned. The shooting is what makes the pitch interesting to the New Yorker.

Both the protagonists have no confidence, no self-belief. Both have had major setbacks in their lives and are down on their “luck”. Both characters use the word “imposter” to describe themselves, and both have failed marriages. Each believe that this story will be their salvation, will turn their fortunes around.

A strange thing happens when Emily is interviewing Lucky. Emily still holds on to a painting of a Lucky café that was painted by her father before he committed suicide. It was this painting that gave her the idea, the inspiration, for the story. When she tells Lucky about the painting, not the suicide, Lucky asks for her father’s name. When she divulges his name, he tells her he does not recognize the name, but his reaction gives a different answer, his eyes giving away the lie. Why would he be lying?

The novel tells the tale of how these two characters are enigmatically linked. The narrative is skillfully woven, not linear, leaping back and forth in time, slowly revealing an enjoyable story which has no political undertones, no moral message. It is all about the characters, the family and the story, which is refreshing. The characters are the strength, and you find yourself hoping one can get out of trouble, that another gets what they deserve. The author forces the reader to invest and care about the characters.

An enjoyable read.

[Nessrina Hazem · Rating 4 out of 5]

تحاول ايميلي كتابة مقالة عن سلسلة مطاعم لاكي المشهورة في استراليا. فمن لم يقضي طفولته في مطاعم لاكي؟ أو لم يستمتع بمشروبات الصودا و نافورة الشوكلاته في أحد الفروع؟ و من لم يتأثر لضياع سلسلة لاكي الشهيرة؟


تحاور ايميلي لاكي بعد مرور ٨ سنوات علي حادث إطلاق النار و الذي أدي لإغلاق اخر فروع السلسلة و افلاس لاكي، لتفاجأ بشخصيته المثيرة للاهتمام.. فبالرغم من أنه رجل مسن إلا انه مازال يتبع شغفه و يحلم بإعادة فتح فرع لمطعمه القديم و البدء من جديد ليثبت أن الشغف لا عمر له. يسعي للحصول علي قرض أو تمويل و أخيرًا يقرر الاشتراك في برنامج لعبة الحظ عله يفوز بالجائزة الكبري🤷‍♀️



يحكي لاكي عن شبابه و عن بيني جودمان و عن قصة حبه الجميلة مع فاليا زوجته.. عن مطعم والدها المجنون و عملهم معًا و عن اصدقائه.. و عن نجاح سلسلة مطاعم لاكي.و لكنه لا يخبرها عن أيان. فمن هو أيان؟ و لماذا ينكر معرفته به؟ ما قصة أيان و لماذا تسأل عنه ايميلي؟

أيان هو والد ايميلي البيولوجي. تأثرت ايميلي بحادث انتحار والدها أمامها و هي بعمر ٧ سنوات. و تمنت لو تعرف عنه المزيد. حيث بدأ عقلها الصغير بمحو بعض التفاصيل الخاصة بوالدها و شكله إلا أنه لم ينجح في محو صورة الحادث من ذهنها و نظرة والدها الأخيرة قبل انتحاره.

قصة أيان مؤثرة فهو شخص لطيف رغم شعوره أنه غير مرغوب فيه من المحيطين. حاول النجاح في زواجه أو عمله و حاول أن يكون مشهور لكنه فشل في كل ذلك و اكتفي بغيرته من لاكي حتي كانت سبب دماره.

"فهم أيان لأول مرة في حياته شعور أن تبتعد عنك الأشياء التي ترغب بها دائمًا. هل ينتمي لمكان آخر؟"



حكاية لاكي التي رواها لايميلي و التي لم يرويه لها جميلة.. فهو شخص طموح محظوظ كما أسماه أصدقائه في الجيش و لكن بعد خسارته الفادحة هل ينجح في مسعاه و يستطيع البدء من جديد؟

"أتعلم من أخطائي حتي لا أكررها في المستقبل. أري أنه ما زال أمامي طريق طويل لأسلكه و ربما لن يتغير تفكيري حتي حين أصبح رجلًا مسنًا. أشعر في أفضل الأيام أنني قمت بتسديد دين لنفسي؛ فأنا أفي بشروط عقد كتبته لبقية حياتي."❤️

رواية جميلة و هادئة قضيت معها وقت لطيف و شكرًا للمترجمة يمني شيرازي و دار العربي علي اختيار الرواية و ترجمتها.

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucky's is an ode to the old Greek cafe style restaurants with Andrew Pippos drawing inspiration from his own upbringing.

Jumping back and forward in time Pippos shows us a post war Sydney when many migrants came to Australia to start a new life, opening cafes and expecting their children to work in the cafe. Here the story follows Achilles Asproyerakas who played an important role in Lucky's restaurants as his cafe Achillion was the prototype for the Lucky's chain.

Then in 2002 we meet Emily on the cusp of a trip from England to Sydney, Australia, to boost her career in journalism, her husband tells her he is in love with another woman. Emily is drawn to Lucky by a painting her father gave her of a Lucky's franchise cafe. Emily hopes to write a career saving story on the Lucky's franchise rise and demise.

Emily and Lucky have many parallels in their lives. Tragedy has had a major involvement in both their lives. Lucky's name was ironic, and this wasn't lost on him, as tragedy after tragedy befell him. His character was well drawn and it was easy to connect and sympathise with him. I eagerly followed Emily's and Lucky's stories looking forward to Emily's big scoop and the outcome of Lucky's appearance on Wheel of Fortune with the hope of opening a new cafe. However the story fell short with too many time changes. Would it have been more engaging if it was in chronological order? I'm not sure.

Lucky's is a tragic tale, tragicomedy without the laughs. If they were there I missed them.

Pippos' writing is exceptional; nostalgic, tragic and palpable.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a let down! I bought into all the hype about this book and ended up being very disappointed. It was nothing as expected. I gave up on this book after 130 pages - I didn’t care about the characters, there was little mention of what the Greek Cafe was like, there were no quirky stories, only ridiculous unbelievable events that simply didn’t make sense. A highly overrated book.

[Trevor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so looking forward to reading this book, but unfortunately my expectations were not met, and for several reasons:

1) There was no explanation as to why Lucky's restaurant was singled out for the shooting
2) The constantly changing perspective added nothing to the story - a simple timeline would have been far more effective
3) Several irrelevant storylines - what had the snake got to do with anything?

No doubt other readers will think differently, but I was left disappointed by an opportunity missed.

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC.

I have to start by saying that this is not a book I would have necessarily picked up of my own accord, and it took me a few chapters to get into.
BUT
Once it grabbed me, it didn't let go. I was thoroughly drawn into the lives of Lucky and Emily. The characters are there with all their flaws and foibles; you rejoice, despair and hope along with them.

This story is chiefly about relationships and the ups and downs of life. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it. Even if you think it might not be "for you", give it a go and I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised.

[Sheree | Keeping Up With The Penguins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This charming novel draws on Pippos’s childhood (having grown up in a noisy, loving family on the floor of a Greek-Australian cafe). That said, I’m impressed with the way he has delicately balanced the ring of authenticity without pouring too much of his own life into the mix, as debut novelists are wont to do. It was refreshing to read an Australian story that reflected the epic stories of European literature, with characters weaving in and out and the ripple effects of love, luck, and rash decisions explored in full.

My full review is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.

[Rosemary Atwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for a sprawling but wonderfully engrossing saga spanning more than half a century. The narrative moves sharply between characters and chronological periods, which some readers will find frustrating, but this really does contribute to the novel’s overall effect and enjoyment.

Another brilliant debut novel from one of Australia’s writers to watch.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luckys was an Australian institution. Franchises across our wide brown land. A beacon of hope and a step up for so many Greek Australian families. That is until...
🍔 🍔 🍔
Lucky Mallios is broke. Emily is lost. Sophia is broken. Ian killed himself. Valia is dead. Lucky Mallios wants redemption.
🇬🇷 🇬🇷🇬🇷
Luckys is a sprawling novel set over multiple storyline’s and covers the rise and fall of Luckys chain restaurants from before world war 2 right up to 2002. They were not always called Luckys, they were not always a chain, and how exactly is it that Lucky the owner lost everything? Told with incredible humour and appreciation of Greek culture (no less because the author is Greek Australian) this book was really enjoyable.
🍟 🍟 🍟
The story is incredibly moving and the author himself notes in the final pages that he will miss the characters. I think I’ll miss them too, I found myself drawn back to the book thinking “where’s Lucky up to now?”, “what’s Emily going to do?”. It’s not suspenseful and the timeline jumps from the present to the past to the future so it wasn’t the draw of finding out WHAT would happen that hooked me in and held me, it was the story, it was the Australianess, it was the humanity and the empathy. Beautiful work Andrew Pippos.

[Declan Fry]

Lucky’s is so laden with incident that it never has the chance to cohere, unless blithe coincidence qualifies. The lack of sustained attention to the characters’ interior lives renders them cipher-like, long-suffering tragedians caught in a series of multiplying cosmic dramas. For all its busyness, Lucky’s retains an oddly muted, static quality: What does it matter how Emily’s father dies – or that he dies at all? Does Lucky pretending to be jazz musician Benny Goodman, or appearing on Wheel of Fortune, have any meaningful effect on the proceedings? It is as though happenstance and idiosyncrasy were employed to create narrative rather than to explore it – to add solely for adding’s sake.

Continue reading: https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/c...

[Camila - Books Through My Veins · Rating 2 out of 5]

- thanks to @macmillanaus for my #gifted copy

I'm genuinely sad about my rating because this novel had a great beginning, and when I started reading, I was sure I was going to enjoy it way more than what I actually did. I was mesmerised by Pippo's straight-forward, no-nonsense writing style, and I loved the concept of intergenerational storylines that seemed promising. However, the more I read, the more detached I grew from the characters, and by the end, I wasn't as interested as I should have been.

I liked Lucky well-enough until I realised the author decided to concentrate on developing certain moments of his life that were inconsequential. The fact that he is a frustrated musician didn't amount to much, yet there is a lot to learn about that time of his life. The 'Wheel of Fortune' moments were also terribly irrelevant, yet when the author refers to Lucky's divorce, he does it with a few sentences and leaves Lucky's pain and loss unexplored. Unfortunately, Lucky goes from being a credible, engaging and likeable character, to a feeble one.

I also tried to empathise and care about Emily, but I didn't. Her storyline's development was predictable early on, and I lost interest in the mysterious elements surrounding her character arc way too early. I felt completely detached from her break-up and her pursuit to discover more about her biological father, and I wasn't too convinced about the conveniences or the coincidences that affected her journey.

Ultimately, I wanted more from the characters, more Greekness, and more depth. There was so much potential in Lucky as a character and his life as an immigrant. Being an immigrant myself I expected way more about what it felt like to miss home, the food, the people, the costumes and being the odd-one-out, always having to try harder than others who are born in the land one comes to live in.

Overall, Lucky's was sadly disappointing. Incongruent when it mattered the most, full of tragedy and drama, but not the sort I usually find myself enjoying. I'd recommend it to readers that prefer Aussie character-driven stories.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having recently lost both her job and her husband, Emily is in Sydney from London with an eye to writing a New Yorker feature about the rise and fall of ‘Lucky’s’, once an ubiquitous chain of restaurants/cafes across south eastern NSW.

Lucky Mallios has a plan - to relaunch the iconic restaurant/cafe he lost to a combination of tragedy and gambling in the mid 90’s. Old and broke, he wants to atone for his mistakes, and leave something for the only family he has left.

With a nod to Greek tragicomedy, Lucky’s is a character driven novel about fortunes won and lost, of serendipity and fate. It shifts between the past and present revealing secrets, coincidences, scandals and trauma. It has a kind of charm that comes from the author’s own affection for, and understanding of, his characters.

Lucky and Emily share not only a link to Emily’s late father, but also similar traits. They each struggle with the loss of a loved one, their expectations of themselves, and others expectations of them. I was keen to discover if Lucky would win his fortune, and thus his redemption, if Emily would find success.

Lucky’s is congenial literary debut from Andrew Pippos

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has it all; love, hate, sin, redemption, tragedy, and even some joy. Emily leaves London to interview Lucky, a former restaurant franchiser, for a New Yorker article. Lucky's tale unfolds in flashbacks and forwards, finally unraveling the story of his life. I was immediately drawn into Emily's life and wish there had been more about her. However, Lucky and the other characters are all so well-developed and intertwined that I found myself reading non-stop to get the entire picture. This is a great addition to Australian literary fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

[John Gilbert]

As much as I usually love books that take place in my home town of Sydney, this one just did not resonate with me. It sounded great.

DNF at about 25%

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 2 out of 5]

I so wanted to like/love this book. I was expecting something more along the lines of Zoe Boccabella’s books, Joe’s Fruit Shop & Milk Bar and Mezza Italiana. Now those two books were lovely although non fiction but still…

There was just too much to keep track of - characters, timelines and other stuff which I can’t really remember.

It was a strange story with equally strange characters and a plot that was all over the place.

I’m sad when I rate a book low but happy that many others loved it. I just couldn’t get into it.

Listened to the audiobook on BorrowBox
Published by Bolinda/Macmillan Australia
Read by Artemis Loannides, Zoy Frangos
Duration: 10 hrs, 58 min. 1.25x Speed

[Emma Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucky is aiming to relaunch the iconic restaurant/cafe he lost to a combination of gambling and personal tragedy in the 90’s. Old and broke, he wants to make up for his mistakes, and leave something for the family he has left.
Having recently lost her job and her husband, Emily is in Sydney from London with an eye to writing a New Yorker feature about the rise and fall of ‘Lucky’s’, once an ubiquitous chain of restaurants/cafes across south eastern NSW.

I was drawn to the story it was so interesting, the plot is mainly focusing of the ups and downs of life and the relationships we go through.
Lucky and Emily were such unique characters when they hope, you hope with them. Their flaws? you love them it's what makes them so relatable.

5 stars.

I want to thank the publisher and Netgalley for the (e)ARC

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well crafted story that weaves together different time periods to tell the story of a migrant Greek family and their cafe chain. The main character Lucky seemed to have his timing all wrong and besides being absent when his cafe was the site of a terrible mass shooting, luck was generally not on his side. The characters were really well formed and although there was a lot of tragedy there was a dark kind of humour and poignancy to the writing that I enjoyed.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was apprehensive after reading the other reviews but the cover was so enticing (talk about not judging a book yadidadida...). I'm glad I read it - it's not a tragedy, it's realistic, soulful and, at times, charming; there aren't too many characters to keep track of, there are literally 2 families interconnected by one key event; and the events aren't unbelievable, they are entirely plausible (indeed, every now and then seemingly coincidental or serendipitous events make it into our actual news cycles).

Perhaps it is true that the reader will need to hold a few names and character histories in their mind as they read. If a reader isn't willing to put in that minimum level of work, then they should probably steer clear of this book (and many other books besides).

[Eli Sav · Rating 4 out of 5]

We often read of tales of Grecians, with great heroism and Romanticised occurrences. We don’t talk in this manner about our Papous and Yaiyas, whose humble journeys to Australia are met with little applause.

Not a story for the faint hearted, however, are there any migration stories without adversity and resilience? Τι ωραία ιστορία!

[Joanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

A total letdown. I would not have finished this book had I not been reading it for work purposes for NSW Reads promotion. Disjointed, odd incidences occurred that appeared to have no relevance to the storyline. Largely unbelievable characters - I was very disappointed.

[Well of Lost Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some people chase dreams. Lucky chases them so hard he accidentally sprints past his own life.

Lucky’s is a multi-generational saga soaked in grief, grit, and the kind of quiet tragedy that sneaks up on you. Pippos builds a rich, vivid portrait of a family weighed down by ambition and regret, where every success seems to cost something intimate. Lucky himself is a fascinating figure — not violent or heroic like Achilles, but absolutely single-minded in that same mythic, self-destructive way. He pours everything into the business, to the point where you keep asking: But for who? For what?

The novel shines in its emotional layering and its portrait of Greek-Australian migrant life, but it also leaves plenty of space for frustration — because watching Lucky miss the point of his own existence is equal parts compelling and heartbreaking. It’s a story about legacy, loss, and the blind spots we carry until it’s too late.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a curious thing: nothing about the marketing of Lucky's appealed to me, and I abstained from reading it even when it was nominated for the Miles Franklin and the Prime Minister's awards.   But Sue's post about migrant stories that are not memoirs, plus the book winning the Readings prize for new writers prompted me to check it out.  I took a library copy away with me to Beechworth for a couple of days and found that there's more to it than the marketing suggested.

What I liked about it was that there's a moral dilemma that lies at the heart of the novel.  'Secrets' are an overworked trope in contemporary commercial fiction, and there's rarely any attempt to grapple with the problem of what to do about secrets kept not because of shame or pride, but because a vow was made to keep it that way for ethical reasons. There is an untested assumption that every secret ought to be uncovered, and that anyone who wants to know, is entitled to know it. That having everything out in the open is universally A Good Thing.

Pippos complicates the dilemma a little by conflating a daughter's desire to know about her father with her being a journalist in pursuit of a story to write, but essentially she wants to know why she is not being told about him because she is curious.  So this is not a case of wanting to know one's medical history or wanting to meet extended family or possible siblings.

So, should Lucky tell Emily that her father paid some random thug to vandalise his café, but it went too far because the thug had issues of his own?  Should Lucky break his promise to his ex-wife Valia because someone else is being blamed for the tragedy that ensued? Who decides whether it's important to keep a secret or not?

Along the way there is the story of Lucky's rise and fall, his flaws and failures, and his attempts at redemption.  It's not great literature, but it is a jolly good story.

[Anita Tymkiw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucky's is a 3.5 star read - very enjoyable. It is mostly set in Australia and gives a fresh take on migrant stories. It all begins with Emily, a journalist who comes to Australia from the UK to write about the now defunct Lucky's cafe franchise. Her interest was sparked by a watercolour her father painted for her before he died. It shows one of the restaurants but she has no idea why her father chose to paint it. Lucky is Greek/American and Emily's father worked for the British High Commission and from the start we know there is a mystery to solve as Lucky denies ever meeting Emily's father.

To unravel the mystery and fill in the details, the story goes back and forward in time to provide the back story of both Emily and Lucky. Bit by bit we learn where their stories intersect and why there is deception and deviation in the telling.

There is a lot of tragedy for both main characters (and all the supporting ones) but I wouldn't call it a depressing book. It is interesting to follow the saga of the restaurant chain along with its demise and repercussions.

The only thing that really didn't sit well with me is Lucky accepting the 'gift' that allowed him to launch his restaurant chain. Eventhough Lucky felt guilty later in life, I just felt a lot of dissonance that he accepted such a large some of money so readily from someone who was the next best thing to a stranger.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting, engaging, multi generational family saga set around a Greek diner restaurant chain in Australia during the 1950s and 1960s. This novel is written in the third person. There are a number of individual life stories. The main character, Vasilis Mallios, ‘Lucky’, is a second generation Chicago born clarinet player in the 1940s. Whilst in Sydney, Australia he meets his future wife on the night he pretends to be Benny Goodman. Lucky returns to Sydney a year later after leaving the US army, ending up taking over his wife’s father’s Greek diner. We learn early on that Lucky’s Greek diner is the scene of a mass shooting, that Lucky built up his business to a chain of 29 Greek diner franchises, that Emily, a British journalist writing about Lucky, saw her father kill himself, and that her father saw Lucky the night Lucky played clarinet, pretending to be Benny Goodman.

An enjoyable reading experience.

This novel was shortlisted for the 2021 Miles Franklin Award.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded down. An interesting novel for the most part, with some great characters, story arcs and themes. Good, straightforward writing too. Could've been four stars if the many and various plot threads cohered better, if the irrelevant out-takes (e.g. quiz, snake) were deleted, and if the ending were more satisfying. As with most contemporary novels, I think it misses a strong editor.

[Pam Tickner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book club choice otherwise I might not have finished it. I didn't really enjoy the shift in time lines but it allowed the story's core to be slowly revealed. An interesting snapshot of Australia during the war years and the integration of the migrant communities.

[Ngarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the writing style, and the author created characters with depth and complexity, but, subjectively, I found it was too bleak for my tastes at the moment.

[Amra Pajalic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well crafted novel that brings to life the 1960s. A great story that unfolds with great twists and turns.

[Carole888 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked up on an impulse after hearing about it. There is a great mix of characters with an unexpected storyline that kept me wanting more. This was a most enjoyable read.