Review of Balaclava

[Maria Angela Labaki]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Balaclava" by M. G. Field.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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As a thriller fan, what I look for the most in a thriller book is the blend between the suspense of murder and the complex moral themes targeted by the author. Balaclava by M.G. Field is a book that merges murder mystery and how cruel humans can turn when lead by hatred and jealousy. The story was captivating, the main character was intriguing, and the writing style made it easy and fast to read; exactly what I love in a book.
Dan's life has been marred by guilt since the tragic murder of his wife Sylvie, as he is the prime suspect. His relationship with his younger brother, Nat, is complicated, as their difficult past of grief and jealousy, resurfaces. The situation becomes even more fraught when a blackmailer threatens to expose Dan’s past if he doesn’t pay a significant sum of money…
Concerning the plot, I would say that the story was quite captivating, however I found the ending to be quite predictable and lacking of originality. Early in the book, I started guessing small parts of the ending, and I ended up being right. Even though the story was enjoyable to read, I found the predictability of the plot to weaken the book. Moving to the pace, I found it to be a little uneven at times. Towards the middle of the book, I felt like things were moving a bit slow. One thing I liked however about this book is the writing style: captivating, enjoyable, easy to read. The sentences flowed and I found myself submerged in the story and flipping pages. Truly addicting. Finally, the themes of guilt, betrayal, redemption, and the psychological impact of grief are explored in-depth, offering plenty of emotional depth to the book. And I think that’s what made me love the book so much: the depth of the impact of addiction, family issues, and loss was perfectly written in this book. The pain and guilt of the main character can be felt through the pages.

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Balaclava
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