Customer Reviews

Skizzer: A Novel

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Skizzer is an interesting book, yet I'm not sure how I feel about it. The fact that I actually finished the story shows it's compelling enough for me to keep on reading, but I didn't perceive much of a spiritual journey for the main character until the very end, and even that was minor. There was not much of an emotional pull for me in this book, either. I guess I kept waiting for that to happen and then the story ended. I did find the sister dynamics interesting as well as the notion that sometimes history repeats itself with sudden disappearances of loved ones. The sense of distress I caught from Rainey was well-done in that I understood his bewilderment, but I was hoping for more of an emotional investment on my end. So while this story didn't choke me up or keep me on the edge of my seat, it was a nice, cozy read sort of like Robin Gunn's Finding Father Christmas. I enjoyed that story, too, but it had a similar pacing, plot and theme that brought me along but never took my breath away. Maybe it's the English mystery thing that doesn't yank my chain. But I did enjoy some of the backstory in the book, especially the part where Aunt Jess tells about the family history. That said, I did enjoy this book, but something was missing...I'm just not sure what that something was.

This book is full of suspense and mystery, leaving you with a new set of questions after each revelation.

Claire drops everything to search for her missing sister. As she digs up the past, old feelings surface and perspectives begin to change. Becca has always been a mystery to Claire and the quest to find Becca would reveal so much more than Claire could even imagine. Would things ever be the same between them?

Skizzer left me with just enough questions to keep me reading, but not so many that I was confused or frustrated. I did find myself having to flip back and forth to get the dates/timeline right in my head but I enjoyed the brief flashes of memories that both answered my questions and left me with more.

I'd probably give it 4.5 if I could.

Skizzer by A.J. Kiesling is a moving story of two sisters journey toward self-discovery. Claire Trowling has to search for her sister Becca when she disappears, leaving behind only a note for her husband saying not to worry. The quest forces Claire to revisit several places from their childhood and reawakens old memories. Claire's story is compelling, and her characterization is really the reason to read this book. Becca comes off as a bit of a flake, but her flight helps both sisters to understand each other and the other women in their family. A family heirloom's mysterious past throws in intrigue and suspense. Kiesling describes settings well from North Carolina to England, but it's her characterizations that really shine and carry this wonderful debut novel.

The author of this book (a former journalist) is without question a skilled wordsmith, and made a noble attempt at writing fiction, but I found this a somewhat difficult read. The present day story of a search for a missing sister was intertwined with flashbacks from their childhood; these flashbacks were vaguely connected to sister's disappearance, but it made the story slow and tedious at times. I kept wishing the flashbacks weren't so lengthy (almost a story in itself that was inserted in every other chapter) and that we could get on with the hunt for the missing sister. There were also numerous historical accounts related by characters in both the present day story and flashbacks, which meant alot more information to process and keep track of. I really had a hard time getting it all to fit together, even when the big "secrets" were revealed at the end.

The mystery itself was a predictable story about someone finding out their family tree isn't what they thought it was, but that's not a bad thing. Its still fun to vicariously live through the main character, Claire, as she tracks down clues to her sister's whereabouts and uncovers things about her family that she had never picked up on before. This was really the part of the story that I liked. But, in addition to the flashbacks that were hard to get through, once the mystery was solved there was another 44 pages written about a big celebration that was going to take place that the main characters were planning to be a part of....and I found this part of the story incredibly boring and irrelevant. The celebration was related to the historical events that had been told to the characters and I'm still a little puzzled as to how these events were connected to the sisters and their family history.

I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading this book, but it wasn't a particular favorite of mine, simply because there was too much information to process and it was not clearly connected. I would certainly pick up another book by this author if she decides to write again.

QUESTION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY READ THIS BOOK ---- how did the crescent moon pendant get from the Lockwoods to the Trowlings in the first place? I'm still confused over this and never made the connection. At the end of the story you find it was originally made for the Lockwood family, yet from the beginning up to this point the necklace was always in possession of the daughters of the Trowlings.

What a FANTASTIC novel! A.J. Kiesling's ability to make the reader relate to the characters and what they are going through is phenomenal. I could not put this novel down even if I wanted to! Some of the best writing I have seem in a while even among best-selling authors. The metaphors in this book are unique, not cliche and trite which proved refreshing and made for an exciting read. I highly recommend this book if your looking for a book that includes mystery, heart-felt emotions, and the idea that sometimes all you need is a little faith. The descriptions in this book are like vivid paintings inside your head and will make you feel as though you have been to the small town of Kellerby, England. I can promise you this debut novel will not let you down!

Claire's sister has gone missing. With barely any clues to go by, she and her brother in law go in search of Becca trying find the reason why she disappeared. Family secrets become revealed in their search, causing many closed wounds to open again. Among their travels, Claire is taken back to memories of her childhood trying to remember what could have caused Becca to leave so suddenly. These secrets cause her to rethink about her past and makes her wonder if the truth would be better off buried forever.

Never judge a book by it's title. When I originally heard of this book, I had no idea what to make of what the story was going to be like by it's name alone. To me it sounded like a science fiction novel which I normally don't . I'm so glad though that I didn't listen to my gut instinct. This book was a wonderful joy to read. I was totally drawn into this story. Hidden family secrets always make for a great plot, and this book uses that angle perfectly. At first the time shifting was a bit confusing. This is mainly because except for going back into the girl's childhood, it is difficult to differentiate between the past and present. However once you realize what's going on, it's very interesting as the reader is part of the story to try and solve the mystery. It is a little baffling as to why Becca left without telling even her husband anything, I didn't feel that part to be very realistic. Still, the mystery throughout is engrossing and I enjoyed the ride. I always enjoy reading stories about sisters mainly because of the fact I have two myself. Plus, I also love how the characters get to travel to England, land of the best story settings in my opinion. It gives good atmosphere to the storyline and helps to add to the mystery. I am so glad that I did end up reading this book. I'm looking forward to the next book by this author.

A.J. Kiesling shares her excellent gift of writing with readers in her first novel Skizzer. What impressed me first in this tale of two sisters, one gone missing and the other's search for her, was her strong vocabulary--she writes with a fluid and literary precision, using the right words in the right place. Speaking of place, she takes us with her to England and shows us the countryside, the history and the people. And she weaves a story that carries the reader along till the very end--leaving us wanting more of her words, more of her imagination, more of her gift.

Claire Towling has received bad news: her sister has disappeared. With just a note to her husband assuring him of her safety, Becca has gone missing. Her husband calls her sister, hoping against hope that Becca had contacted her. When Claire hears of her sister's disappearance, she heads towards Gideon, North Carolina, where they grew up.

As Claire passes through the area where they used to play as children, she remembers a secret box that they had buried when they were young. Digging up the box, she finds a letter from Becca urging her not to worry about the disappearance. However, Claire cannot seem to do so. The abruptness and the joyfulness of her note causes Claire to realize that there is something going on that she does not know about. As Becca's husband and Claire try to solve this, she uncovers deep family secrets that has long lain buried. Will she be able to handle the truth?

The story written in first-person point of view was riveting from the very beginning. The novel opens with Claire driving to North Carolina and the reader is not aware of any problems. But small clues and phrases alert the reader to the fact that there is something wrong, and that build suspense simultaneously. The story is not only transcontinental, spanning England and America, but it also has flashbacks to when the sisters where children.

The characters are lively and portrayed beautifully. Becca is the flamboyant, impulsive younger sister with a vivid imagination. Claire is the older, more serious sister who envies Becca's sense of creativity and freedom. As the story progresses, both characters, especially Clair, changes and grows.

I would recommend this book to all mystery lovers as it is the perfect story that will capture the imaginations of many as they try to understand Becca's disappearance.

Armchair Interviews says: Well-told story.

A wonderful and tender mystery that was part "National Treasure" with historical clues leading to important discoveries, part love story, part genealogy, and lots of enjoyment.

Family secrets abound in this novel. "Skizzer" reads like a cross between "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", "Steel Magnolias", and "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe". Rich with Southern gothic atmosphere, this is also a novel of deep faith and returning to your belief in God.

It's a novel about finding out where home is, and then making your way back. "Skizzer" is a novel that transcends time and place, with frequent flashbacks to Claire's childhood and her family history, as well as changes in locale.

As one who has uncovered many family secrets myself, I can testify to the destructive nature of hiding things that will only later come out. But I can also testify, as can this novel, to God's healing power once we let what was hidden out into His light.

I enjoyed "Skizzer" (which, by the way, comes from Becca being unable to say "sister"...ironically:-), and I believe you will as well. This is a stunning debut and I for one will be highly disappointed if I don't hear more about this wonderful new author.