Review by Janet
The story centres around twelve young adults, adopted by a mysterious ‘Father’ figure (whose powerful nature is noted in a very matter-of-fact way) many years before, after the sudden deaths of their parents and neighbours. They are withdrawn from ‘American’ life; each is made to study a particular discipline and to utilise it.
But Father has disappeared and there is a deadly force making it impossible for them to return to the library where they studied and lived. The twelve need not only answers about Father but also to know what to do next. It will mean some interaction with ‘Americans’…but none of them really know how to do this except for Carolyn, whose expertise is languages. Others of the twelve are involved, according to their discipline – some helpfully, others less so. And then there are the ‘Americans’ with whom Carolyn apparently randomly interacts…
The book draws you in when it opens with Carolyn walking along a road in a blood-soaked dress. From there it offers the reader puzzle after puzzle as scenes unfold, vividly and unapologetically, pieces to be put together as you continue to read of unsettling behaviours and even stranger dress sense – a grown man in a tutu? A huge, bull-shaped ‘barbecue’? This is a book which you need to roll with; suspend your disbelief and go with the flow, from White House to wild animals, brownies to bank robberies, revenge to redemption.
The Library at Mount Char mixes genres. There is fantasy, there is crime, there is LOTS of violence, there is psychology and mythology and even a bit of philosophy. It’s an absolute roller-coaster which can move from the absurd to the horrific to the poignant in almost as many page turns.