Book Review: One-Hit Wonder

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

One-Hit Wonder     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Lisa Jewell
Class/Genre:   Fiction
Dutton, Jun 2002, $23.95, 358 pp.

Though she had not spoken with her half sister in a dozen or so years, reticent Ana Willis still worshipped Bee Bearhorn as her idol like she did when she was a teen. Thus she handles it badly when she learns Bee died in a dingy London flat with the police calling it a suicide.

Ana travels to London to close Bee’s estate, but is stunned to learn that her sister not only adored her, but also talked in glowing terms about her to the neighbors. Ana is unable to resist learning more about Bee’s groovin’ life in London and what really happened to drive her sibling to take her own life. Back in the eighties, Bee had a major rock hit, but she apparently never recaptured her fifteen seconds of fame. Now Ana meets some of Bee's friends who also seek the truth. Soon the trio begins to uncover secrets about Bee that make them wonder if suicide occurred even as the country bumpkin begins to flourish in her deceased half-sister’s lifestyle.

Lisa Jewell shows she is no ONE HIT WONDER with a warm witty Brigit Jonesque like chick tale. The story line contains a bit of a mystery, but is more a coming of age story as the shy Ana leaves the cocoon to finally embrace life. Fans of the young single English female will find this novel is a jewel of a tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner