I have to admit that it was with some hesitation that I accepted the challenge to read and review Linda Kavanagh’s latest book ‘Time After Time’.

I had attempted to read but abandoned half-way through all her three previous novels, ‘Love Child’, ‘Love Hurts’ and ‘Hush Hush’, all published by Poolbeg, as I found both the writing and plot irritating.

However, as someone who has slogged all year and handed in a book to be published in September 2008 I know how hard it can be to produce a manuscript once a year and so I decided to read her latest offering with an open mind. Once again I found myself with conflicting emotions at the end of this complex and at times intriguing tale which takes the reader on a journey going back over three decades and into the lives of three central characters.

There’s bride-to-be Caroline who is preparing for her wedding and whilst sorting through items at home stumbles across a photo of a mystery women who she soon learns is her elusive Aunt Gina. When she asks her mother and other aunt about her it is clear that she has opened up a can of worms and her questions are not welcome.

But Caroline is on a mission– to find her mysterious Aunt, heal whatever rift has evidently kept her from her family for so long and have her as guest of honour at her wedding.

On a subsequent trip to London with her two friends, during which she also plans to make discreet enquiries about her Aunt, she literally bumps into a man on the street, goes on a date with him, sleeps with him and there and then decides not to marry childhood sweetheart Ken who is waiting for her back home.

Should the author have described her date or brief relationship with the man she met, Simon, with any real intimacy, the reader might have been convinced that the couple had a chance but they literally only met for five minutes and suddenly they were an item. It seems an implausible and unbelievable situation, certainly not one that would see Caroline throw away her marriage to her fiancée whom she had been with since childhood.

The next part of the story involves investigative reporter Alice Fitzsimons who is seemingly happily married to Bill who drops a bombshell one day and tells her that they are in financial ruin. Rather than stay and help him sort out their financial difficulties she decides to go for a break in Argentina and that’s where, once again, the author’s story falls short.

In what started out as a good and very intriguing mystery once again matters of the heart take precedence as well as the fact that there are more shootings and fights than in a James Bond movie which again, just seemed very implausible.

The novel continues on with themes of mistaken identity, murder and people falling in love at the drop of a hat. However, the mystery is a compelling one and the reader will enjoy seeing it reach its conclusion.

This is a story about sisters and friends and love and though it’s a little unrealistic at times it is the best of the four novels Linda Kavanagh has written to date and I look forward to her fifth.

‘Time After Time’ is published by Poolbeg and is available nationwide.