The Split
Title: The Split
Author: Sharon Bolton
Genre: Mystery/Psychological Thriller
Published: 2020
Obtained: Amazon
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Felicity Lloyd is living in fear of her ex-husband, Freddie. She is so afraid that she pursues a job opportunity that takes her from Cambridge to South Georgia, a remote island in the southern Atlantic Ocean. Her doctor, Joe Grant, senses that she is hiding or repressing some pertinent information regarding her past (and her ex), and is eager to help. Will Joe and his detective mother, Delilah, be able to reach Felicity in the frozen Antarctic island before Freddie?
Sharon Bolton does it again! The Split is another thrilling masterpiece crafted with a deliciously woven plot, convincing characters and consistent tension. Bolton kept me turning the pages, even when I was sleep deprived and up at all hours with the baby. With every chapter I was swept up into Felicity’s confusing and eerie world.
Bolton’s storytelling is what I love most about her novels. She pulls you into an adventure that is never quite what you think it is—full of twists, surprises and mounting tension. I love that she plays with perspectives. The Split does this well; Bolton tells the story from the viewpoints of Felicity, Joe and Freddie. You see the mystery from different angles with little bits of new information at every chapter. I know nothing of the island of South Georgia, but I can tell you that I was able to see it in detail with her descriptions. The frozen and ice-cold landscapes add to the pressure of the mystery.
Bolton’s ability to craft well-rounded, convincing and complex characters is another one of my favorite things about her writing. She has perfected the art of not revealing too much too soon about her characters. Instead, she peels them back like an onion…layer by layer as you get deeper into the novel. This strategy helps build up to those famous twists Bolton is known for in her stories. I love that every time I think I definitely have a character figured out, I’m hit with a curveball. As a reader, it keeps me on the edge of my oversized armchair.
The tension throughout The Split is insane. Bolton even weaves it into the side plot. She creates suspense without gory horror—which is what draws me to her writing. The novel flows with the right amount of anticipation page after page. Bolton slowly reveals the past of her characters in order to help the reader speculate the ending—but, the ending is never quite what the reader expects.
I give The Split a 5 out of 5 for being a damn good story. The characters are robust, as usual. The story itself is well-crafted and written with the right amount of suspense. This was another Bolton thriller of which I could find no faults. I recommend sipping on Primal Roots Red Blend as you read this novel; it’s a dark blend that pairs well with the complexity of the story and the characters. It’s smooth with rich flavors. The 13.5% alcohol content may also keep up with your racing heartbeat as it thunders along with this engaging and spine-tingling story. Overall, It’s a great (affordable) wine to pair with a great story!
Rating: 5/5
Wine Pairing: Primal Roots Red Blend 2016
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