Publishers Weekly Review of Life Portraits

I received my Publishers Weekly review of my Amazan Breakthrough Novel Award entry, Life Portraits. I couldn't be more pleased with it. Obviously I got their best reviewer. Whoever it is does a better job at summing up my novel than I do:

From Publishers Weekly

When a woman inherits a series of nude photographs of an unknown man, it triggers a search for the truth behind her dead mother’s mysterious history in this superb novel. Shifting back and forth between the present and the past, with portraits both metaphorical and literal, the parallels between the lives and personalities of young mother Sally Swain and her own newly-deceased mother, photographer Eva, come into detailed focus. Sally’s search draws her into a quest for her unknown father’s identity as Eva’s tale moves from the 1950s to the 1970s amid the drama of the Civil Rights movement and explores her relationships with two very different men: doctor and budding politician Paul James, and confused, often-depressed artist Isaac Rutherford. The suspense is maintained masterfully throughout, and Sally’s slow maturation as she learns the lessons of the past is handled gently and effectively. Paul, Isaac and their family members are richly portrayed with a complex and realistic balance of virtues and flaws as Sally slowly unravels Eva’s secrets and resolves her own personal challenges in the deeply satisfying conclusion.

Pardon me for excerpting the high points:

"... superb novel."

"... suspense is maintained masterfully ..."

"... handled gently and effectively."

"... richly portrayed ..."

"... complex and realistic ..."

"... deeply satisfying conclusion."

You can read my entry. Comments are welcome.