Stepping into the Sun

For a first novel, "Stepping into the Sun” is quite remarkable. Like all the best books it draws you in to a beautifully created world packed with a great storyline. There are finely drawn characters and a powerful central mystery that holds you to the very end. It begins with the central figure, Phillip Hart, driving home drunk. He kills an old man and buries him in a makeshift grave deep in a roadside ditch. That's the trigger for a mystery taking Hart on an intriguing journey of discovery. The language is thoughtful, the style sophisticated and, underpinning all of this, there's deep and genuine research giving it the kiss of rich authenticity. This is a book that quietly inhabits your imagination. What first drew me to the book was the great title and the even better website: https://steppingsun.com/index.php There you will find a treasure trove of information brilliantly laid out. This is one of the best websites I have ever looked at. Most important, it's simple and very easy to navigate, and packed with information, giving you an excellent insight into the author and the development, history and story at the heart of his novel. If I have any criticism, it would be that perhaps a few characters are rather too finely drawn. For some of them I simply didn't need that level of detail and just occasionally it got a bit irritating. I wanted to get on with the main characters and the plot, which are more than strong enough to keep the momentum going. But that's a minor quibble. I test a book by reading the first few paragraphs and ask myself "Do you want to carry on?” At least nine times out of ten, even with famous authors, the answer is no because a book requires an investment of time. With "Stepping into the Sun” I got to the second sentence and thought: "Oh, yes…..this is worth the effort”. This is a powerful book, a great story and it's wonderfully told.