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Book Description:
Nuclear Armageddon blasts through time itself, dragging people from different eras into a turning point in history.
The year… 1746.
Around Fort William, the Scottish Highlanders are in revolt and the Redcoats are coming…
But this time they will face more than flintlocks and Claymores.
Can history be changed, or is the future doomed to witness…
The Last Sunset?
“…it has the strength to be a comedy and also a love story which at times cuts really close to the bone.” — amazon.co.uk review
“…conjures up the atmosphere of the Scottish Highlands beautifully.” — amazon.co.uk review
“…the book stayed with me and I found myself wondering about several other pivotal moments in history.” — amazon.com review
“…you will spend the rest of the day thinking about it once you close the back cover!” — Book Worm Brandy
And now, for what it’s worth, my review:
First of all, let me declare that I received a free copy of “The Last Sunset” in return for a fair, honest review.
That being said, I found this book to be unique. It involves time travel, which is a very difficult issue to work out properly in a story – and Mr. Atkinson does so in ingenious fashion. Add in the fact that it’s time travel put upon folks from several different time periods, and thrown into a war zone from mid-18th century Scotland, and you have yourself a read.
What I found most compelling about the whole thing was how the characters from each era – including those from old Scotland – were depicted in such detail, and with complete accuracy. Their mannerisms and customs were spot on, and it didn’t take me long to realize that the author was either from Scotland, or he had done exhaustive research into the lifestyle of the region during the book’s time setting – including the local dialect, I might add.
There are two things that really drive how I grade a book: how it brings forth emotion, and how it moves. And this one scored high in both. There were folks in it I hated, those I loved, and some I respected. There were none for which I felt indifference – and that was key. And it had no dead areas in it. The story line was always building, shifting, and best of all, getting more complicated – and doing so smoothly.
This is a real page turner. Now, I’m not one to use the whole “couldn’t put it down” phrase – I can put any book down. But I can tell you when I did set this one on the table, I was looking forward to coming back.
And I don’t give 5 stars to any book. Period. But this one earns 4.5, and with a clear conscious. And it’s also one of the few books I own that I’ll read a second time.
Now. What are you waiting for? I don’t go saying a book is great if it isn’t – at least in my opinion. And I’m telling you, you are doing yourself a disservice if you don’t get this book. Soooo…what are you waiting for? You still here?
Pingback: One of the best books I’ve read in a very long time is “The Last Sunset”, by my brother Bob Atkinson. This is why… | Greyhart Press
With such a fantastic review, and such a great write-up, You’d think it would let my like it; wouldn’t you? Nope. Not even today. It seems I’m still Persona Non Grata.
I don’t care. Tom, thank you yet again for your fine words, and for taking the time to reproduce them on your blog. None of it is forgotten my friend.
De nada, my friend. For what it’s worth, I put your book on that list in Goodreads. The unknown but should be known one? But now I can’t find it, so I can tell people to vote for it. Still trying…and don’t tell me not to, cause you need a shot in the ass to get some sales going..right?
Feel free to pepper my ass with as much buckshot as you want. Likewise yourself; we’ll pull out all the stops come March. ( Was that a wee butterfly there? )
vulture, buddy….it was a vulture
All joking aside, you have an excellent book there, Tom. It’s as good as anything I’ve read in a long while. I genuinely do think it has the strength of story to transfer quite comfortably to film.
The only thing your book needs – and which you have absolutely no control over – is that little bit of luck. But you could not have prepared the ground any better than you have.
Damn, Bob…thanks, man
You took my breath with that one. Ironically, one of the questions one the Liebster Award thing was about who I’d have play the various roles…
And by the way..considering your popularity woes, perhaps accepting and participating in that award might not be such a bad idea…gotta get your name out there, bro…
From what I can gather half of ASMSG is participating in the Liebster award. I’ve been sent a parcel of questions by Ruth and I’m not even in it!
To me it’s like Twitter; a marketplace with too many stallholders and too few customers. In the end, all that’s left is for the stallholders to sell to each other.
Thanks anyway for the thought.
yah, i know what you mean…soon everyone will be nominating everyone…like a gang of penguins hopping around…it was just a thought. I really think the best service you can do yourself long range is to get your blog up and running…you see what THAT does…
I totally agree about the blog. It’s a great way to peddle your wares and create links with other peddlers. I have to say, yours is as good as any I’ve seen, and should be seen as the benchmark for any blogger.
You have used your time wisely, my friend.
Thank you Bob…I truly appreciate that. I have worked hard on it….not to sound mercenary, but I hope it pays off in a couple months
I’m an agnostic at heart, but I like to quote The Bible from time to time. I would say you’ve been casting bread upon the waters. You deserve to have it come back at you tenfold.
I’d have to say not everything I’ve cast comes back
Oh, I know exactly what you mean. Since I became a published writer I’ve spent a colossal amount of time reading and reviewing fellow authors. To date I’ve received one review for every two I’ve written. It’s a little disheartening at times.
twas ever thus, my friend…it’s a game of numbers….