Book Review: Good Morning, Darkness

Reviewed By: Luke Croll - RAM

Good Morning, Darkness     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Ruth Francisco
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller   Police Procedural
Mysterious Press, 2004, 305 pages

Ruth Francisco's first novel was very different, a mystery novel filled with lyricism, powerful descriptions and evocative prose. At times, it did not feel like a mystery novel. 'Good Morning, Darkness' takes her in a different direction. A beautiful woman called Laura disappears, and when an arm is found washed up on the beach, both a detective and a fisherman obsessed by her fear foul play. They become determined to solve the mystery.

With this second novel, Francisco again proves that she has a great talent. She employs multiple points of view and the reader is allowed to see inside Laura's head at the beginning of the novel. From there, we see the detective, the fisherman and many more. Francisco creates different narrative personae for these characters and they feel real. Her greatest character may well be that of Scott, Laura's boyfriend. The multiple perspectives allow us to see how he views himself and how is he viewed by other people, creating some interesting differences.

Anyone with any experience in reading mystery novels will immediately realise that there is more going on in 'Good Morning, Darkness' than first meets the eye. Francisco puts in several twists and as the mystery gradually unravels, the intricacy of the story becomes clear.

Francisco's prose is still just as powerful, but she has greatly reduced the vivid descriptions that filled her first novel, and some might say, detracted from the actual story. 'Good Morning, Darkness' is a tight and well-crafted novel and there are clearly great things to come from Ruth Francisco.

Luke Croll - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Luke Croll - RAM

Luke Croll - Conference interpreter and translator
http://lukecroll.translatorscafe.com