Such a Beautiful Thing to Behold

A Novel

By: Umar Turaki

Narrated by: Ifeyinwa Unachukwu

Length: 9 hrs

Publisher's summary

An inexplicable sickness. A small town cut off from the world. An unexpected community of survivors forges a family out of the despair, struggling against things known and unknown for survival and hope.

A mysterious plague known as the Grey grips the small village of Pilam, which the world has quarantined without pity. Laying waste to Pilam’s residents, the sickness saps its victims of strength, drains the color from their eyes, and kills all promise. Only the young are immune. But beyond the barricades and walls of soldiers—the manifestation of a nation’s terror—there are rumors of a cure. Dunka, the eldest son of a family reeling from the Grey, takes on the daunting task of leaving Pilam to find that cure for his siblings and save them before it’s too late.

His brother and sisters, however, have plans of their own. Navigating the chaos of violence, hunger, and death, each of them tries to make sense of the bleak circumstances, forging new bonds with other juvenile survivors left to their own devices. Now an unlikely family of six, they choose their own perilous paths, at first separately and then together, coming to terms with the decisions they make and the ghosts they cannot leave behind.

Umar Turaki’s gripping novel is a story of survival, love, and the human spirit’s tenacious capacity for wonder.

©2022 Umar Usman Turaki (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved

Critic reviews

“Turaki's beautifully written first novel, deftly narrated by lfeyinwa Unachukwu, is a story of hope in a desperate time.… Listeners looking for a literary take on a dystopian future will enjoy Turaki's debut novel.”—Library Journal

“A mysterious disease sweeps through an African village in Umar Turaki’s debut novel. Estranged siblings reunite to band against this insidious illness, highlighting the power of the everyday in this terrifying yet elegant read.”—Good Morning America

“No matter how terrible the circumstances…Umar Turaki isn’t glossing over the reality of how bad this situation could get—the changing perspectives kick in at exactly the right times to break the tension and allow a little hope back for the reader…It’s a beautiful book, and even more impressive as a debut.”—Mystery & Suspense

#abrknpoet reviews

Today I'm going to write a book review on Bloodline by Jess Lourey, a thriller novel that follows a journalist who returns to her hometown to investigate a series of murders that seem to be connected to her family's dark past.

The book is divided into two parts: the present day, where the protagonist, Joan Harken, tries to uncover the truth behind the killings and the secrets of her fiancé's family; and the 1960s, where we see the events that led to the creation of a cult-like community that controls everything in Lilydale, Minnesota. The author does a good job of switching between the two timelines and creating suspense and mystery throughout the story.

One of the positives of this book is the atmosphere and setting. The author paints a vivid picture of a small town that is hiding a lot of sinister secrets and where everyone seems to be involved in some way. The book has a creepy and unsettling vibe that kept me hooked and curious. I also liked the main character, Joan, who is a strong and determined woman who doesn't give up easily and who faces a lot of challenges and dangers along the way.

However, there are also some negatives that I have to mention. First of all, I felt that some of the plot twists were predictable and clichéd, especially towards the end. I won't spoil anything, but I was hoping for something more original and surprising. Secondly, I didn't really care for most of the secondary characters, who seemed to be either too flat or too stereotypical. For example, Joan's fiancé, Decklan, who is supposed to be her love interest, is very bland and passive and doesn't have much personality or chemistry with Joan. Lastly, I found some of the scenes to be too graphic and violent for my taste, especially those involving animal cruelty. I understand that they were meant to show how twisted and evil some of the characters were, but I think they could have been toned down a bit.

Overall, I would give this book 3 out of 5 stars. It was an entertaining and fast-paced read that kept me engaged and intrigued, but it also had some flaws that prevented me from loving it. If you are a fan of thrillers and mysteries with a dark and creepy tone, you might enjoy this book. But if you are looking for something more original and nuanced, you might want to skip this one.