First Impressions

I felt like I was taken straight into the story, immersed in the world the author sets up and
feeling an attachment to the characters. The storyline is very believable and for me it gave an
interesting insight into a middle aged male psyche in particular.

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Narrative & Characters

The narrative alternates in each chapter between the three storytellers meaning that you build
a more rounded image in your mind about the events as they unfold. The characters feel real
and their emotions tell the story as much as anything else. I could imagine living in this place
and knowing them – I feel I know that much about them. Some of them (not only the three
narrators) are truly nasty too which makes things interesting.

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Themes & Tone

The story explores themes of death and grief and guilt. There is the side story of war too and
its effect on this small town. It explores a darker side to human nature, all the time building
suspense around what might happen next and how it will all pan out.

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Twists, Pacing & Payoff

The pacing is a slow build, but with some sudden moments you weren’t expecting, or were
but they still took you by surprise. You are often waiting for something to happen too. Some
results are unexpected, others you kind of know are coming, but that only adds to the tension.
The result is neatly tied up, if not quite what you would have wanted or expected.

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Writing Style

The author is writing here as three voices – but there is the underlying darkness to each of
them, and even the other characters in their wider spheres. For me it reminded me a little of
Iain Bank’s The Wasp Factory – telling of the parts of people’s characters they would rather
keep hidden, even from themselves. Interestingly the one female voice was not in herself
dark, but the subject matter made for dark times in her life. There is good use of repetition
which reminds us of what that character is going through and helps us understand their
actions perhaps. It’s good solid writing from a professional.

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Perfect For Fans Of:

• Iain Banks
• Stephen King

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Final Thoughts

Lyttleton Siren is a clever, if dark, story, told well through three main viewpoint voices and
exploring the darker side of human nature. It makes no excuses, only tells it like it is, and all
to the backdrop of 1980s small-town England. There are unsavoury parts, but that makes the
story all the more real. Would make a great Christmas gift for someone who enjoys a bit of
dark psychology.