My Sunday Book Review this week is for Joy Lennick’s ‘factional’ story – The Catalyst. The train bombing event that took place in July of 2005 in the U.K. was a tragedy that Joy has taken and built an interesting story around the incident, bringing in her two main characters who got caught in the fallout, as she takes us into their lives as the incident occurs, and their lives after.
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Blurb:
When a terrorist blows up an Inner Circle line train between Liverpool
Street and Aldgate at around 8.50 am on 7th July 2005, it leaves seven
people dead and many others injured, some badly. In the horrific
explosion one of those injured is journalist Ian Grosvenor. Also trapped
and wounded is a young mother and artist, Serena Mason. Among the
‘walking wounded’, Ian becomes a reluctant hero by helping other
passengers and carries Serena from the train, before collapsing.
Ian and Serena slowly recover from the worst of their injuries, both
physical and mental, but are haunted by the memory of each other and
what they suffered on that dreadful day. The desire to trace and
discover how each fared grows stronger with time, until it becomes
almost an obsession.
In all, three trains and a bus were blown up, killing and injuring young
and old alike. It was ‘an act of indiscriminate terror’ affecting Britons
and non-Britons, Christians, Muslims, and those of other or no religion.
This story covers more than the young couple’s aftermath traumas and
recovery; it reveals a dark family secret, and highlights the importance
of the love and support of families and friends in times of need. It also
illuminates the ever present ‘ifs’, ‘buts’ and ‘coincidences’ which weave
in and out of all our lives, and the wonderful power of humour.
Will Ian and Serena ever find each other? And if they do, will they find
happiness?
My 5 Star Review:
This story begins with the horrific bombing incident that took place in London, July 7, 2005. The author takes us into the horror of the event, and introduces us to two main characters, Ian, a journalist who was severely injured, and despite his injuries, he manages to rescue, Serena, an artist and fellow passenger in his same carriage on the train.
The story grows from the bombing to Ian’s injuries while in hospital, where we are introduced to some of his family members – his sister Sally, his dad, and Sally’s husband Mark. As the story continues, we are taken into Ian’s divorced life, the bonds he shares with his family, and some very picturesque scenes later when Ian is back out in the field on assignment in Spain. But all the while he cannot help but wonder what has become of the young woman he rescued on the train. There was certainly no time for conversation in the midst of a disaster when the mission was survival. And as the author takes us through wonderfully detailed story of incidents in Ian’s life with some of his friends and family, the question continues to haunt Ian about whatever happened to the young woman he rescued.
In the last part of the book, we are taken into the life and struggle of Serena and her healing, the woman that Ian rescued. We’ll learn about her past, her raising a son as a single mother, her deep friendships that helped nurse her back to the living from her PTSD and physical injuries, and her same curiosity that lingered within, wondering about what ever became of the man who rescued her.
Without spoilers, let’s just say that the universe eventually brings us to where we need to be. What we do with it when we get there, you’ll have to find out by reading this engaging read of life, circumstances, and relationships.
©DGKaye2022
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