Review of The Crossroads of Yesterday.

[Deretha Thompson]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Crossroads of Yesterday." by Eva Abbo..]

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4 out of 5 stars

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The Crossroads of Yesterday by Eva Abbo is a fictional thriller that centres on the life of Evelyn Rotlewicz and the emotional turmoil she faces as a result of a past life trauma. Vivian Rotlewicz had received a terminal diagnosis of congenital arteriovenous malformation after she suffered a fainting spell on her husband's birthday celebration. Her husband Victor, who is a doctor, did all he could to find a cure for his young wife, but this came at a cost that they wouldn't have children. Some years later, something short of a miracle occurs, and Vivian gives birth to a healthy girl, Evelyn. When the child turns five, she begins to experience nightmares and personality issues unlike her. This continues till adulthood, and she continues to undergo therapies from different doctors to help with the condition until her recent doctor suggests a procedure that reveals that she was a victim of past-life trauma. How will this issue be approached? Does Evelyn get her life back? There's only one way to find out. ​

This book's plot was intriguing and played out in a way I did not see coming; most of the story is set in the past, and as the story progresses, the characters are seen reminiscing a lot, which forms the major focus of the story. The storyline and descriptions of the Holocaust suffered by Jews at Auschwitz, though sad, had some historical accuracy and were told to perfection. These narrations elicited a lot of emotions from me as it broadened my understanding of the past. The character development was solid; it centred on just a few characters, but the significant backstories included made these characters deep. The diction was simple, expressive enough, and easy to follow.

Regarding dislikes, I did not appreciate the time jumps I observed in this book, especially at the beginning. I felt like I was being tossed around, and at some point, I had some issue with knowing what character's perspective was being discussed. I also noticed some underdeveloped plots that did not add up, an example being how Vivian was able to conceal her pregnancy from her husband until the sixth month. The story also seemed to outrightly push for a happy end as everything seemed to just work out, especially towards the end. I must commend the editorial aspect of this book, as I only spotted one error throughout my reading. Due to the issues I highlighted above, I'm rating this book 4 out of 5 stars. It was an easy read, not overly long yet captivating; I'm only deducting a star due to the negative aspects I highlighted above. I recommend this book to fans of psychological thrillers, mystery, and books with some historical significance.

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The Crossroads of Yesterday.
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[patricia MGBEMENA]

I feel sad that Evelyn Rotlewicz had to go through a lot based on the trauma which she had faced in the past. I also liked reading that her husband was supportive throughout her journey.

[Joe Alex 2]

The concept of past-life trauma and its impact on Evelyn’s life intrigued me, especially with the historical aspects tied to the Holocaust, which seems to add a lot of depth. Thank you for your honest review.