Review: Tigers in Red Weather by Liza Klaussmann

Publisher: Bond Street Books
Released: 2012
Pages: 368
Source: Publisher
Rating: 5/5



Synopsis:

Nick and her cousin Helena have always been inseparable. When the Second World War comes to a close, the young women find themselves parting ways. Helena moves to Los Angeles to marry an up and coming producer, after the death of her first husband, she will sacrifice everything to make this marriage work. Nick tries to settle into a domestic life with her husband, but Hughes is always working and very distant. Nick has never been comfortable in the kitchen, but she tries her best to make her husband proud. After the two cousins become mothers, their lives change even more and they can’t wait to spend a summer together. Everyone seems to have a perfect life, and bright future. When Nick’s daughter, Daisy, and Helena’s son, Ed, discover the body of a maid who was gruesomely murdered, the charade becomes to unravel and readers discover what’s really going on in the lives of these women. Helena’s husband can’t spare one moment when his life revolves around producing a movie about an ex-love. He wants Helena to give up her family’s money to support his dream. Nick seems to have the perfect life, but she’s bored and tempted. She tries to help Helena as much a possible but she doesn’t necessarily want the help. The last ten years have been rocky.



Review:

Klaussman’s debut novel is extremely well written, and worth the read. Tigers in Red Weather is an entertaining and suspenseful read. The story is told in 5 character perspectives, and really adds to the storytelling. This is not something that I would normally enjoy, but Klaussman develops each character so well, that I couldn’t help but enjoy each new perspective. It was a great way to get a glimpse into each character’s mind, and how they each interpret situations. A character’s actions towards another, doesn’t necessarily show what they think of the other person. The intimate insights are thought provoking.

The chronological order of the story line is not linear, character flashbacks forces readers to go back through time and relive a memory through a different character’s perspective. This mostly adds to the story and builds a better understanding of what happened to each individual. While it may sound repetitive, it is not. I thought this style of the story was incredibly well done.

Tigers in Red Weather is a perfect summer read, filled with great characters, and strong writing. This is not a simple, light read, it is an intelligent summer read filled with historical details. This book is highly recommended for those who like character driven stories.