Title: Pemberton
Author: P R Sinclair
Genre: Spy Thriller
LGBTQ+ Category: Bi Gay
Publisher: Self
Pages: 416
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
“…my heart no longer remains with me, and without a heart, how can it be that I am alive?”
L’Orfeo, Monteverdi
December, 1988: For Kurt Nash, CIA agent, dealing with grief starts with keeping a promise to scatter Nick Roston’s ashes in Pemberton, Western Australia, after he fails to save his friend’s life during an assignment in Europe.
An unexpected encounter with Nick’s fiancée, Lucy, who has returned home for Christmas, allows Kurt the chance to explain Nick’s disappearance, but also opens up Kurt’s own grief, while he is still fighting the terror of the event which saw him captured and tortured, and which nearly killed him.
When Lucy and her brother, Don, open their home to him, a friendship develops which will challenge the views and preconceptions each of them holds.
From Pemberton to London to Cyprus to the US, and finally back to Pemberton, Kurt starts to face his grief, guilt, and fears, and the possibilities of a new future open up for him, for Lucy, and for Don, which none of them expects.
The Review
“Pemberton” takes place in Pemberton, West Australia from December 1988 through December 1989. The story revolves around CIA agent, Kurt Nash. Even though Kurt is an agent, he seems innocent and naive where his personal life is concerned. He’s under psychiatric care after the devastation and danger he faced in trying to save Nick Roston, his CIA partner and friend. Kurt, now dealing with Nick’s last requests has traveled to Pemberton and connects with Lucy and Don Gardner. Kurt becomes familiar with Lucy and Don and their out spoken family members and friends.
In Kurt’s return to America he makes an important change in his life. With the new change Kurt would think life would be easier. He has a chance to return to Pemberton to visit but he’s still plagued with what happened in the past. He’s also faced with an odd situation where Lucy is concerned and a trip to Cyprus where Nick met his end.
PR Sinclair created an extraordinary character in Kurt Nash. Kurt still struggles with his own problems and Nick’s last request. Along with phases of Kurt’s life, little by little the author sneaks in some intriguing situations and turns this novel into a thriller. In his travels Kurt starts to see things and it helps him to remember what happened in the past. The story is somewhat psychological with Kurt’s issues, what happened to him and Nick, trying to remember and facing his feelings about Nick. He’s confused and has to sort out his feelings towards: Nick, Don and Lucy.
Don Gardner is a great character and very much himself but he still has issues. He’s smart, very caring and likable among many of the other characters. Even though Don seems comfortable with who he is, he’s living in a world that is still intolerant.
Sinclair also creates many quirky and opinionated secondary characters. The relationship that develops with Daniel and Kurt is heartwarming. Joe and Jim are just filled with wisdom. Annie Lippman helps Kurt face some important issues that help him figure out his life. Dillon Fox is an illusive character but that goes with the job. I had my doubts about Lucy. What happened between her and Kurt gave me the feeling that it stemmed from their feelings for Nick and to a degree, felt like Lucy tricked Kurt. Martha certainly got on my nerves she was just to flighty and was too grabby when it came to men.
This is a first time read for me by PR Sinclair and I have to say this was a page-turner for me. I liked how the author plotted the story to take me in different directions which kept me on edge with trying to figure out what would happen next. I hope there will be more entertaining novels to come from PR Sinclair.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
