BOOK NEWS
The Key to It All - Joanna Rees (2014)
In Brazil, teacher Julia Pires wants to help give hope and aspiration to her class of impoverished students despite having little herself. Christian Erickson is a doctor working in turbulent central Somalia, witness to the brutality of humanity every day. Meanwhile, aspiring actress Scooter Black isn't making any headway into her career and is getting pushed to the bottom of the pile. Fed up with the daily grind in Japan, Kamiko loses herself in video games. Meanwhile in London, city banker Harry Cassidy has missed out on a huge trade and all seems lost. Each of these five people, however, are going to have their worlds turned upside down when they receive a mysterious key that promises them whatever they desire. Is the key a hoax, is it a game or is it really the means to a better life? What will they ask of the key? And who is the unknown benefactor? The blurb for this book gives little away so I was intrigued to finally read it and it's certainly as enigmatic as the blurb suggests. An interesting mix of mystery, suspense, glamour and drama, the book weaves together the stories of each of the characters, finally uncovering the mystery behind the keys. The range of settings, contexts and narratives is wonderful, from the glitz of Cannes to the favelas of Rio, and each character is acutely drawn. The ending was wrapped up too quickly for my liking and the book has a really individual tenor and mode that makes it hard to pin down and won't be to everyone's taste. Chick lit and romance this is not, but if you're after something different to read, this book certainly gives you that. (JC)
The Key To It All, by Joanna Rees, is centred around a mysterious key. The summary says: "Your darkest secrets revealed. Your deepest desires fulfilled. When five seemingly random people simultaneously receive 'the key', they don't know it, but their lives are about to change forever. Shrouded in secrecy, the mysterious silver key is delivered to each of them along with a code and web address and a promise that - used wisely - the key can unlock the door to luxury and privilege beyond their wildest dreams. However, as each of them start to use it and are suddenly propelled into a world where moral choices start to become hazy, they all start to question who is funding the key and why they have been chosen. Only the bravest will use the key to seek the truth." The Key To It All is out in February 2014.