I’ve just finished this book and it’s the first book in long time that I’ve actually disliked. I’m so annoyed with it I need to see if anyone has interpretations because I honestly can’t tell if it makes no sense and is completely inconsistent or if I’m just not bright enough to understand it.
First off I’m not convinced that the author is clear which of his two female main characters is which at any given time. Maud Finch is introduced as the older of the two and has ‘firm opinions and a firm manner of expressing them’. Millicent Swallow is younger and ‘a little vague around the edges.’ Later though when their younger years are talked about it becomes that Maud is the younger one and Millicent is much more dominating.
Then there’s Mr Cadmus himself, he has turned up in the tiny English village as part of a revenge plan/treasure hunt. But also he may be some kind of spiritual leader/personification of a curse from his home island of Caldera? He randomly marries Maud for no particular reason I can work out. When the police questioned Mr Cadmus and Millicent about Maud’s suspicious death they both turn on each other but are then perfectly friendly and travel together back to Caldera.
The mystical bird of Caldera is described as purple, then green, then purple again before finally being green the last time it’s mentioned. Is it a mistake? Meant to reflect the amethysts? Representing unreliable narrative?
The ending with Maud as a ghost! Not to mention all the Chekov’s guns that weren’t fired.
by drawolliedraw