Viewer's review: Nicola Brooks reviews Romanno Bridge
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Romanno Bridge
Andrew Greig
ISBN-13: 978-1847243157
I was inspired to read this book after a trip to Scotland- Andrew Greig being one of Scotland’s finest contemporary writers. I was also intrigued by the comparisons with John Buchan’s ‘The 39 Steps’, one of the finest thrillers ever written.
Luckily, the opening did not let me down- it was fast, tense and exciting. It created instant intrigue; a man walks into a forest, shedding all items of clothing until he is left clasping a mysterious ring. He then commits suicide.
A host of characters and narrative strands are then introduced, including Kirsty Fowler, the protagonist. She receives a strange Moonrunner Ring from a dying man who tells her the story of The Stone of Destiny. Kirsty and her companions set off on an adventure to discover the true resting place of the Stone of Scone (a stone of Scottish heritage, supposedly taken to England by Edward I in the late 13th century).
Much of the time this novel was the gripping read that I had hoped for, suspenseful and daring, yet intelligent and thoughtful. In places I felt that I truly learnt something about Scottish heritage, but without feeling that I was being lectured. However, at times the pace was too slow and the rather complex relationships between characters got in the way of the action. Many of the character appeared in Greig’s previous novel, ‘The Return of John MacNab’ and I feel that I would have gained more enjoyment from ‘Romanno Bridge’ if I had read it beforehand.
Overall, this is an enjoyable read, ideal for those who enjoy their thrillers with an intellectual bite. However, it is unlikely to change your life or leave you thinking about it after the last page.
By Nicola Brooks, Bristol
Nicola has also recently enjoyed reading The Road Home by Rose Tremain and The Outcast by Sadie Jones
