Glide

by Alison Jean Lester, Andrew Gurnett (Photographer)

It’s November in Massachusetts. Leo Coffin is making a birthday cake for his wife, Liv, due home soon from a trip to Norway, when a stranger comes to the door claiming to be Liv’s half-brother, Morten. Too polite to make the stranger wait until Liv is home before letting him in, Leo unleashes a troubling, fascinating force into his quiet life.

When Liv returns, unable to separate fact from fiction, Leo is forced to live with mystery upon mystery, as well as a secret he’s been keeping himself. Can his marriage survive the fiction? Can it survive the truth?

Genres: Mystery

286 pages, Paperback

Published November 15, 2021

About the author

Alison Jean Lester was born to a British mother and an American father, who met on an airplane when she was a Pan Am stewardess and he was coming back from participating in the first American expedition to Mount Everest. She has variously studied, worked, and raised children in the US, the UK, China, Italy, Taiwan, Japan and Singapore, and now lives in England with her husband and their miniature schnauzer. Her first novel, Lillian on Life, was published in 2015, and her second, Yuki Means Happiness, came out in July 2017. Her memoir of her mother's amazing approach to the end of her life, Absolutely Delicious: A Chronicle of Extraordinary Dying, was published on 22 October, 2020.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

First and foremost, a large thank you to Reedsy Discovery and Alison Jean Lester for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

I always enjoy discovering new authors, something that comes with the territory as an active book reviewer. When asked to read the latest piece by Alison Jean Lester, I obliged, keeping an open mind and sense of curiosity. The novel explores human connection on a variety of levels, including how deep it can run, even with the impediment of memory loss. Lester leaves much for the reader to consider throughout.

Leo is excited that his wife, Liv, will soon be home from her trip to Norway and has been preparing for her arrival. It’s also Liv’s birthday, something else to celebrate. When a knock comes at the door, Leo finds himself face to face with Morten, Liv’s half-brother. Not wanting to appear rude, Lee invites Morten inside and they await Liv’s return. All the while, Leo cannot shake that he has heard nothing about Morten in all the time Liv has been in his life.

When Liv is delayed for unknown reasons, Leo and Morten get to know one another a little better and take some time to travel around New England, a day trip that proves somewhat fruitful. The days pass, and still no Liv, though she does call and leave a message that she will be home soon. Leo is still unsure what’s going on, as this does not seem to be the wife he’s known.

When Liv does arrive back in Boston, she has no memory of anything, unsure what’s happened to her. Leo takes her in for some tests and discovers that it is some form of amnesia. It could take days or weeks to rectify things, but Leo will not give up. This may explain the oddities, though Leo is determined to get all the pieces back in order as soon as possible.

Due to her memory loss, Liv knows nothing about Morten, which is to be expected. However, something seems off and Leo cannot entirely put his finger on it. During an explosive moment of memory regeneration, Liv is able to connect the dots and remembers Morten, though not as he has presented himself. It’s up to Leo to synthesise it all and determine what’s going on, as well as how best to move forward. It is only then that Leo learns the truth about Morten and how significantly this man has disturbed things.

There is no doubt that Alison Jean Lester can write, as her story flowed fairly well throughout. The premise was strong and kept me intrigued throughout. It is a well-paced story set in Boston, with strong Norwegian undertones throughout. Lester leans on this at times, keeping the reader wondering how strong the European connection will be to the overall reading experience.

Leo remains the protagonist throughout, discovering much about himself and those around him. He struggles with a past that is full of peaks and valleys, though is also trying to come to terms with much in his present life, things that he could not have expected to experience. Slowly, he comes to terms with these bumps in the road, though it is not entirely clear how well he can cope with too many unknowns floating around him.

The story moved along well, keeping the reader entertained as the narrative gained some momentum at various spots. The twists and plot reveals kept things from being too predictable, though there were no gasping moments in my opinion. With decent characters and a clearer plot line, I cannot fault Lester on her efforts. However, the entire experience came off as a little too folksy for me. Perhaps I am too used to cutting edge thrillers and mysteries that offer grit, but it lacked some chilling drama that the pretence of the story left available. Things seemed too calm and docile, particularly when the revelations that come to the surface. There was a moment in the latter portion of the book, but it, too, fizzled into a form of resolution before too long. Again, that could be on me, though I was hoping for something a little more intense and chilling, rather than gliding from one revelation to another, if you pardon the pun.

Kudos, Madam Lester, on a well-written piece. I hope others take note and enjoy the twists you embed into your writing.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Alison Jean Lester for offering this book for my humble opinion! This was my second thriller/mystery/suspense book for October 2021...or so I thought.

This is the story of Leo and Liv Svendsen. While Leo is baking a cake in preparation for Liv's homecoming from visiting her mother in Norway...it is Liv's half brother, Morten, who shows up at the house bearing a store bought cake. The only problem (besides the cake) is that Liv has never mentioned Morton being her half brother. When Liv fails to be on the plane at pick up...things just don't add up.

After a week of disappearance and then excuses as to why she didn't make the plane...Liv finally shows up at the airport with no memory.

Who is Morten? Why has she never mentioned him? Why and how did Liv lose her memory?

This was a slow burn of a book. It was an interesting concept that had me turning pages trying (as always) to find out the why. However, it wasn't the "thriller" type of book I was expecting. It was more family drama (which isn't bad!). Family drama almost always starts with secrets, and this book most definitely had them!!

I wasn't thrilled with the end, but that's just me. I like a wrapped up book (often with a bow ~lol~). This one left me hanging. Which left me curious, is the author going to write a sequel? Or, does the author want us to come to our own conclusions?

I liked this book. I didn't love this book. Not for anything the author did or didn't do. I think that I just had my mind set on fast paced thrillers for the month and this turned out to be (like I previously said) a slow burn family drama. If it interests you...please, pick it up! There is alway a book for all different people!

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Alison Jean Lester for providing me with the copy of Glide 😊

It was a perfect October book with its family mystery and drama! I loved trying to understand the lies and the secrets and "who's telling the truth".

From the first pages it left me thinking WHAT IS GOING ON? and I just couldn't stop reading because I wanted all the answers!
The writing style is great, it makes the story feel so real. I liked the characters and would've loved to read more about them.

So all in all it's been a great reading experience!

[Chantelle Hazelden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alison has written something wonderfully unique here.

It's quietly dramatic and the images used in between chapters as a sort unspoken suspense to it all.

Looking at the complexities of all relationships, it's a fascinating read.

Marriage and families are put under the microscope in this book with secrets, lies and those things that unfortunately go unsaid.

I think what I liked the most was how uncertain I was as to what direction the story would go.

If I were to re-read I feel as though I may take even more from it.

[Caroline Attwood-Reusser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a gripping and unusual book, you think you have the measure of things; then wow, a surprise fact is revealed. A clever mix of ordinary, mundane and warped creepiness. The black and white photos set up the mood for each chapter. Just the right read for dark winter nights.

[tre be · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glide opens with Leo at home awaiting his wife’s arrival from a trip to Norway. An unknown man, Morten, shows up to his home claiming to be Liv’s half-brother. Leo is taken aback because Liv has never mentioned a sibling. Meanwhile, Liv isn’t on her return flight, instead she arrives home days later, unable to remember what’s happened or anything else.

Two million dollar questions loomed for me: who is Morten? And, how did Liv develop amnesia?

I knew Leo’s wife returned home with amnesia after being missing days after her flight was to arrive. I knew Morten, Liv’s never seen before half brother, popped in out of the blue. I knew it was something sinister about him.

But it was when I got that “Ah-Ha moment” that the wheels really started to spin and hook me further into the story.

Glide was quite interesting and filled with a soft-build up of drama and revelations. Everyone had secrets, even a someone I didn’t expect had some tea to add to the mix.

The characters were well fleshed. I pitied Liv being in a helpless position totally dependent on others to help jog her memory. I could feel how foreign she felt in her own home. I also felt for Leo, feeling like a stranger to his wife, and being caught off guard with this total stranger.

I really wanted Leo to grow a backbone when it came to Morten and a couple other situations. I kept wondering why he kept asking Liv deep questions while she was still in a deep state of confusion? Once Liv came to some realizations I liked her a little bit less.

The story is set in Atlanta but the Norwegian terminology and cold weather included made me think they were in Europe; I could definitely pick up on the wintry feel. I would’ve liked a little more detail about what happened with “𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑠𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒“ in the end and if the conclusion sets us up for a sequel.

The illustrations throughout the story helped give some eerie vibes, but I’m curious to know the significance of each one…as well as, “Glide, Leo, Glide” that was said a couple times in the story.

🎁Thank you @alisonjeanlester for my review copy. It took a [long] while for me to get to it, but finally got-her done! This was a super quick read to curl up under the covers with!

🗓 Published: 11-15-21

[Marcus Bicknell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cracking novel and one which reveals its secrets and surprises in a well-paced way. The satisfaction of a page-turner is not just to want to get back quickly to reading some more, but also to have some reveals to keep the energy levels up. Most of the action takes place in Liv and Leo’s kitchen but I found myself transported round the leafy northwest Boston commuter towns and into the cold of Oslo’s Vigeland statue park. The Norway links are very convincing; Lester’s own time there is telling, and the feel of the people and places chimes with my own weeks there every couple of years with my Norwegian step-mother. Morten’s brazen entry into any home, situation, and relationship of trust makes him as chest-thumping real as any Viking coming off the long ships in the Wash and plundering the Fens. Super characters. I feel I know each of them intimately.

Glide seems so fresh that it’s hard to believe it was twenty years in the making. I learned during the launch that this book was on the back-burner while Yuki Means Happiness, which till now I have felt was her best book, Lillian on Life and Absolutely Delicious were published. I’m so glad Lester persisted with Glide; while the others, including Yuki, have very difficult issues at the core, Glide is there for the fun of reading and the spark of the story. Certainly there are several issues here which worry the reader as they worry society, but the plot and the characters are what make the book swing along, tripping over each other with their awkwardnesses and lurching from dismay to delight and back.

Apart from Leo’s monologues as he tries to fathom what the hell is going on in his life, most of the prose is conversation. I love this. People talking is how our world is expressed. Their inner thoughts spill out, or if Lester leaves a silence, that is just as telling. This all seems natural and is a big part of making this book so vital. Lester’s prose is, as always, excellent, but here she gives us the gift of spontaneity, fun and happenings. If I had picked up Glide at Heathrow WH Smith as a Booker prize nominee, I would not have been disappointed.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glide, a new psychological suspense written by Alison Jean Lester and published by Bench Press, is a gripping read. It follows the story of Leo Coffin, a man who lives in Massachusetts and is preparing for the return of his wife Liv from her travels in Norway, her home country. A stranger turns up at the door just before she is due to return home, claiming to be her half-brother Morten. This confuses Leo, but unsure of the truth he lets this stranger in, releasing an overpowering force into his home and his life with Liv, with dire consequences. It is up to Leo to separate fact from fiction, and find out what is really going on here. It's a tale showing the power of secrets and lies, the fragility of relationships, and the importance of communication.

This book is not of a genre I tend to read, but I really valued it for the opportunity it gave me to enjoy something different. The writing style itself is very gripping, allowing you to easily get carried away in the narrative. The author's husband is a photographer, and a selection of his images are featured at the start of each chapter. This union of abstract photography with fiction is unique, and added a real visual interest to the novel. Overall, it is a really engaging novel that I relished reading.

Thanks to the publisher Bench Press and the author Alison Jean Lester for the review copy of this book. To be published on 15th November.

[Ronald Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Glide' quickly intrigues and you are drawn in by the excellent characters and their developing stories.

I loved the pace and mysterious surprise of Mortens appearance, his actions and ultimately his affect on Leo and the quandary of what had really happened to Liv.

Alison is a brand new author to me who was introduced by serendipity at a local Arts festival.

I enjoyed this story so much I could not wait to find out what had happened to Liv and then why.

'Glide' is excellent and I have nothing but praise for the author and this splendid book. Each chapter is cleverly preceded by a photograph which plays with your mind as you try and interpret how it corresponds to the narrative.

The story is made perfect by superbly suspenseful story telling which draws you in and confounds your anticipation in equal measure. Wonderfully paced with twists and turns just when you think you have it's number.

Well done Alison Jean Lester I want more!

[Claire Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Glide - a literary mystery. I love Alison Jean Lester's writing and I don't know why this has sat on my shelves for so long. Leo's wife, Liv is in Norway visiting her mother, when a stranger with a birthday cake knocks on the door of Leo's and Liv's Massachusetts home, saying he is Morten, Liv's half brother come to celebrate her birthday. But Liv doesn't make her scheduled flight home, and then gradually everything Leo has assumed is undermined, even while Morten has got under his skin. Great characterisation and writing, and a very fast read. (Leo is a photographer and the novel has black and white photographs by Lester's husband, Andrew Gurnett. And while I enjoyed these, I'm not sure having one on the cover helps to give any indication of what a rich and clever novel this is.)

[Bg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Alison Jean Lester and Andrew Gurnett for an early copy of this book.

I really liked this novel. It was creepy and shocking, and I simply had to know how it ended. I felt a rising tide of fear, a slow build of unease punctuated by stomach-knotting moments when the chilling revelations were unveiled. The sense of dislocation is acute, and the images between the chapters work brilliantly, showing us things both familiar and alien at the same time, just as the characters are experiencing the same.

[Kate Innes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this highly original and gripping novel very quickly - I had to! I was so enthralled by the various personalities, their distinct lives, their lies and half truths, their fully worked out back stories. Beautifully written, this is a book you won't forget. It investigates what constitutes and cements relationships on so many levels of love and family - and how the ties that bind us together can both strangle and trip us up. Highly recommended.

[Brett Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thriller that generates its thrills not from violent scenes or menacing characters, but from uncomfortable frictions that arise between (mostly) average people when the secrets they've kept from one another start to be uncovered. I kept compulsively guessing at who was lying and who was telling the truth, not because I wanted a villain to root against, but because I cared about each of the characters, and wanted to know if they'd come through all right.

[Fran Hawkes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Waiting for his wife to return a man opens his door to a stranger claiming to be his wife's brother.

This is an interesting psychological thriller, but there never seems to be quite enough peril or tension, it always felt a little too safe. I do want to go to Norway, though, after reading this book.

[Liz Lefroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story held me, with all its improbable moments. It's carefully plotted, and psychologically interesting. It moves along at a good pace.

I enjoyed the photographs too - each chapter has a b&w original photo as a facing page.

A good book for any situation in which you have to wait for a long time - flight, train... The time will pass more easily.

[Maggie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Looks like in the minority, worst book I've read in a while. The only reason i read to the end is because it was my book club read for July, we were unanimous in our thought's, terrible!
Conclusion was that there was no story or any reason for anything that happened.
Fingers crossed we get a good book club read soon!

[Sarah Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Glide from cover to cover and recommend it as a gripping read. The plot is carefully worked out and its stories are mainly told through skilfully written realistic dialogue. Finally the end is worth waiting for........

[Elin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't normally read this genre but I finished this in one day - I found it so gripping, and the plot so interesting, couldn't put it down!