Review and Secret Santa Giveaway: The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Aged 42 and Three-quarters by Barbara Silkstone

Title: The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Aged 42 and Three-Quarters

Author: Barbara Silkstone

Published: March 2010

Sypnosis: A murder by beheading sends Alice Harte, reluctant real estate broker for thugs, running into the arms of Nigel Channing, a charming British con man. set in Miami and London. Raeders will cheer for Alice as she watches her back in attempts to keep her head while being stalked by Nigel’s daft ex-wife and a team of inept, but dangerous, mobsters. Alice’s world is filled with real characters strangely reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland as she’s guided through her dangerous adventure by her own Cheshire Cat.

Status: Read in December, 2010 — I own a copy

My Thoughts:

Barbara Silkstone’s quirky new novel is a tribute to the genius of the Lewis Carrol classic, Alice in Wonderland.
Alice Harte, aged 42 and 3/4, is caught between her homicidal real estate boss and his rival, out for revenge of the beheading of his brother. Desperate to avoid Tweedledee and Tweedledum and to keep her head, Alice decides to escape to England and during her online search for a hideaway meets Nigel, a (possibly) handsome British charmer who offers to fulfil all her dreams. Alice quickly discovers that Nigel is too good to be true as he whisks her from place to place, always looking over his shoulder. When Alice returns to the US, her dreams in tatters, she must find a way out of the rabbit hole.
Silkstone has created an unusual story that interjects elements of fantasy with contemporary characters and plot which makes for a fun and unpredictable read. There several touches of the absurd, including the grinning Cheshire cat and the rabid rabbits, but they work within the spirit of the novel. Essentially it’s a mystery/suspense, as Alice needs find the truth behind her boss’s unsavoury work ethic and Lizard Links to save herself from being dragged into court or worse, and avoid the mysterious Mr Hare who wants proof of her boss’s wrongdoings and won’t take no for an answer. There is also a generous component of romantic comedy as Alice pursues her British dream man.
I quite liked Alice, though she was an odd combination of practicality and fantasist. The first person point of view stemming from Alice’s diary entries gives the reader an insight into her character and her motivations as she careens through the plot.
The relationship between Alice and Nigel is a little like a screwball romantic comedy. Alice is so desperate to cling to her fantasies that she ignores Nigel’s inconsistencies until she really has no option but to concede defeat. Silkstone kept me guessing about Nigel and his motovations right up to the end where his escape with Maris made perfect sense.
The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, aged 42 and three-quarters is an unusual tale, that is entertaining with a unique point of difference from the usual fare of the genre. It’s sure to appeal to readers who like something just a little left of center.

The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Aged 42 and Three-Quarters

is available to purchase @ Amazon

WIN!

Barbara Silkstone is generously offering readers a special giveaway in the spirit of the season. One lucky reader will win not only an e-edition of  The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Aged 42 and Three-Quarters for themselves but also three additional copies to gift to their friends!

*Open Worldwide*

How to Enter

+1 Leave your name, email and country in a comment

+1 Tell us what your favourite classic tale is.

Additional entries

+2  tweet this contest (include your twitter name)

Total possible entries = 4

Winner will be drawn  December 21st by random.org

Good luck!