Tuesday, June 19, 2018

The Pretty Little Box by Charles Todd

First Sentence:  She didn't know what had come over her.
      
A rare devotional in an exquisite box moves from person-to-person, affecting the life of each person by whom it is possessed.
      
What a thoroughly intriguing story.  It hits on so many levels.  One wonders from where the book came, what was its road to reach the beginning of this story?  Was its end as it was planned, or did it travel on?
      
Although not tied to either their Ian Rutledge or Bess Crawford series, this is a lovely way to try Charles Todd.  It is also an interesting twist when the protagonist isn't an individual, but an object.  Even better, just as we often do with a person, is that it is an object about which we get to know more as the story proceeds. 
      
For those of us who love and collect antiques, there is often the thought of wondering who had owned them before, and what was their life like.  For those of us without family, we wonder where they will go once we have passed.  Will they be enjoyed and appreciated, or end up in a rubbish dump?
      
"The Pretty Little Box" is fascinating and thought-provoking.  It leaves one with more questions than answers, but that's part of its appeal.

THE PRETTY LITTLE BOX (Novella-England) – Ex
Todd, Charles – Bibliomysteries Book 32, Penzler, Otto, Ed.
Mysterious Press – 2018 

3 comments:

  1. That's really interesting - a story built around an object like that. As you say, things have histories, and it's fascinating to think about what those histories are, and what the lives were like of the people who had those objects.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This sounds fascinating! I'm adding it to my TBR list. As a lover of antiques and family heirlooms, a lot of my short stories are created around vintage finds in antique stores. And a story that falls along these lines, while touching hearts and changing lives too? Couldn't be a greater combination.
    Thanks for the review!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Can I just say what a relief to seek out somebody who truly is aware of what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how one can convey a problem to gentle and make it important. Extra people must learn this and understand this aspect of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular since you positively have the gift. real money casino

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.