A TASTE OF HIS OWN MEDICINE.

 

One of several bloggers to be participating in this, the one day only Book Birthday Blog Blitz of Linda Fawke's A Taste Of His Own Medicine, for the full list of other bloggers (one of whom is Pen and Paper regular, Gina @  Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers) please see the list of participating bloggers below.

How long can the desire for revenge last?

Kate Shaw, a successful pharmacist, goes to a thirty-year reunion at her old university and uses the weekend to settle some old scores. Her main target is her ex-lover, Jonathan. She decides to scar him for life as he scarred her. Her bizarre plan works but he shocks her with his strange, unwanted reaction.

What is the unexpected link between Jonathan and Kate’s husband?

What is the significance of the ‘Love Bite’ photograph?

What hold does Jonathan have over Kate?

Revenge is never simple.

A darkly humorous story of love, lust, loss and vengeance. ... Summary

She didn't think about it anymore. ... First Sentence, Page 1

She gnawed on a nail, a habit long since dropped, until there was nothing left to chew. She was empty; there were no words to say. She barely noticed Jonathan getting up, putting on his coat and leaving. Sometime later, maybe an hour or more, she walked into the kitchen, tipped the remainder of the Asti down the sink, put the bottle and the glasses into the rubbish bin and left, slamming the door. ... Memorable Moment, Page 82

MY THOUGHTS ... Proof that the female of the species is more deadly than the male? I don't so much know about that but A Taste Of His Own Medicine certainly lends some weight to the quote Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned/Nor Hell a fury like a woman scorned.

A what; a romance albeit one with a dark twist? A thriller; a story of long awaited revenge? The story of Kate, a woman with a  long memory and a score to settle, A Taste Of His Own Medicine is both.

Set at an interesting time educationally; universities were changing, becoming accessible to those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, to people such as Kate, a somewhat naïve student whose romance with a fellow student leads to a thirty year old grudge.

There's no doubting that the author has a keen eye for detail, something no doubt helped by her own pharmacological background, I do applaud how she brought 1970's university life and all the tensions that often went with it to light. 

Of equal merit were the characters; well written, well rounded, people we could relate too or even identify with, Kate in particular deliciously complex, my sympathies for her constantly changing a huge draw.

Unexpectedly humorous in parts but also darker, much darker than I expected; some of the more darker aspects, namely the scenes involving a so-called date rape drug, particularly graphic and yet not at all gratuitous, I thought them very considered.

With twists and turns aplenty, continuously left wondering what was going to happen next, I found this a difficult book to put down. The ending? Left wide open for a sequel, those who hate cliff-hangers aren't going to be happy but then there's always the sequel, A Prescription For Madness to look forward to. 

SUMMED UP IN A SENTENCE:  A cautionary tale of what can happen when a woman feels badly done by.

ABOUT THE BOOK ... Genre: Women’s Fiction ~ Publication Date: November 2016 ~ Standalone First Book of a series ~ Estimated Page Count: 264 ~ Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Taste-his-own-Medicine-ebook/dp/B01N2NYZVN/

​ABOUT LINDA FAWKE ... Linda Fawke is an arts person who studied science but always wanted to write. Now retired, she indulges this passion, writing fiction and non-fiction, even occasional poetry, preferably late at night. She has now written two novels, 'A Taste of his own Medicine' and its sequel, 'A Prescription for Madness' using her background in pharmacy as the setting of both. These are easy books to read, suitable for Book Club discussions. ' A Prescription for Madness' is more serious than the first book, dealing with such issues as pregnancy in later life and Down's Syndrome.

She has been a winner of the Daily Telegraph 'Just Back' travel-writing competition and has published in various magazines including 'Mslexia', 'Litro' online, 'Scribble', 'The Oldie', 'Berkshire Life' and 'Living France'. She was a finalist in the 'Hysteria' short story competition.

Linda blogs at www.linimeant.wordpress.com where her 'Random Writings' include a range of topics from travel to 'Things that pop into my head'.

FOLLOW LINDA FAWKE ...  FaceBook ~ Instagram

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One of two books to feature on Pen and Paper today, if you haven't already done so, please feel free to read my thoughts on Let's Talk About Cats: Conversations On Feline Behaviour by Anita Kelsey.