Book Review: Night Windows

Reviewed By: Luke Croll - RAM

Night Windows     Amazon US PB Amazon UK PB Amazon Canada PB
Jonathan Smith
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Abacus, 2004, 372 pages, £10.99 (British pounds)

Patrick Balfour is a famous writer and the head of a prestigious London school. However, his world starts to collapse around one day when the police come for him, armed with evidence proving that he is a thief and paedophile. Patrick knows that he is innocent, but can he go about convincing the police that he is a victim of identity theft?

There is the old adage that you should only write about what you know, and in this novel, Smith does exactly that. Between 1984 and 1997, he suffered from fraud and identity theft. If the situation were anything like the one that he describes in the narrative, it must have been an extremely unpleasant experience. Identity theft seems to be an increasingly popular crime and Smith describes well the tortured state of Balfour's mind.

His writing style is particularly easy to read and although the novel is told in the third person, we spend a lot of time inside Balfour's head. His characters are interesting and whilst the supporting cast are small, they are well drawn. Smith's experience in education also shows, as he creates an accurate picture of the politics and petty squabbles that make up any school.

'Night Windows' is a polished novel that is a pleasure to read. Smith has created a strong mystery with enough twists to keep the reader guessing. Some could argue that it is almost impossible to predict the identity of Balfour's tormentor, but this would only be a minor quibble. Strong in plot, 'Night Windows' particularly shines when it comes to characterization. Recommended. -- Luke Croll

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