Two people, from two very different cultures and with two identical suitcases, are bound for Paris – with completely different intentions.One is a young Muslim woman taking the first steps of independence that will crush her traditional beliefs; the other a city gent with one last assignment before retiring to pastures new. But as surprising events unfold, their lives intertwine.When a sinister … intertwine.
When a sinister twist brings them together, they will dictate each other’s destinies… and only one of them can survive.
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Black Sparrow is a thrilling adventure that completely surpassed my expectations… and that’s only because the plot was so tightly woven and the characters were so incredibly complex, it just floored me in a super positive way. This was the second book I’ve read by A.J. Griffiths-Jones, and while I really enjoyed the first one, this was truly a fantastic and memorable read of a different level. I definitely recommend this to those who like international connections, religious beliefs buried in character’s logic, and tons of surprises in the story.
There are several main characters that connect to two primary travelers on a flight to Paris. One is a young Muslim girl who longs to be with her French boyfriend and to escape the clutches of her very religious and overprotective parents. Another is a man nearing retirement who must finish one last contract before he can decide where to spend the remaining years of his life. They notice one another at the airport and again on the plane, but what they don’t know at the time is how connected their lives will be for the subsequent week. Throw in a hotel owner, the young French boyfriend, the extended Muslim family, and a couple of other people who fill out the story, and you will truly not know what to expect. This is an adventure I will not forget anytime soon!
This wouldn’t be a proper review if I didn’t tell you how much the Muslim girl’s family thoroughly annoyed me beyond any reasonable expectation. I understand different religions have different beliefs, and I respect it. I recognize that there are extremists who fail to understand the delicate balance to a successful life. I get that there are still men in this world today who think they can control women. But all of it can still develop an intense hatred for the way some of these people behave — and thanks to the phenomenal style of delivering these character’s emotions and motives, Griffiths-Jones successfully pulled that utter frustration and anger from me. She created such tension and drama, I wanted to leap into the book to hurt these people.
As if that wasn’t enough, the torture of some characters was simply brilliant. After several chapters of thinking someone will suffer a certain type of pain — BAM — you’re thrown for a loop and down a different awful pathway. I hated it and loved it at the same time. Hated it because of the end result, loved it because I didn’t want to put the book down. All-in-all, this story will take you up and down several peaks only to slap you with the truth in the end. It’s often difficult to keep things under wraps for voracious readers, but this time I didn’t see the end coming.
Part of me believes that I was so engrossed in the story and the wonderful writing tone that I didn’t want to think about what would happen… I just wanted to experience it as the words hit each page. That’s the kind of story and book that makes you thrilled by an author’s talent. A strong recommendation for me on this novel. Be prepared, there are some extremes, and while the author is merely choosing characters and beliefs that aren’t always the reality, it definitely happens and represents the truth of what some people experience even in today’s modern society. Sit back and enjoy it… and let your passion develop for a multitude of reasons. It’ll be the kind of read that prompts you to shake the book or tablet like a madman at times!
Uzma Fariq, a young Asian girl, living with her parents and her younger brother in England, secretly leaves the family home and boards a plane to Paris. She is hoping to contact her boyfriend, a man she met a few months previously while on an art course – the man had been her tutor. However, on the same flight, is a man called Colin Foster. He, too, is a man on a mission, but in his case he is going Paris to kill someone. As it turns out both Uzma and Colin are staying at the same guest house, both having used it before but not at the same time.
Obviously once Uzma’s parents become aware that their daughter has run away, they look for ways to find her. But where do they start? OK, she left a letter saying she had gone to Germany. Why Germany? She had never been there before, so why now? Who could they turn to to answer this riddle? Had their daughter confided in anyone?
There is so much more I would like to say, but I do not want to give away any of the plot.
The story is written from the viewpoint of each of the characters. Not only from Uzma and Colin’s perspective, but also Collette, the rather attractive and well bred lady who ran the guest house, and each of Uzma’s family members. Every chapter opens a door and tells the reader what really really went on in behind the scenes in the Fariq household.
Don’t let this one pass you by, it’s a really good read!
The fates of two very different people converge when a sinister twist brings them together. The young Muslim woman running from her traditional family and the city gent hoping to round off his career before a comfortable retirement, find themselves inextricably bound up in each other’s destinies.
The last book I read by Ms Griffiths-Jones was the fantastic ‘Prisoner 4374’ (the fascinating story of Dr Neill Cream). This one, however, is a very different affair. Written in the present tense, we get every character’s point of view as each one reveals his or her own story. Though it’s a bit of a slow start, the author gradually lets us see who has secrets, who has obsessions, and who has ulterior motives. A cleverly told story that keeps its twist until the last minute.
This is a story of different lives, colliding against the backdrop of Paris.
A young Muslim girl, fleeing her family to be with her true love.
A city gent, travelling abroad for one last assignment before his impending retirement.
A hotel owner with a shadowy past, who knows why the English gent has turned up at her door.
All three lives must come together, with a devastating conclusion.
I loved this book. It’s a real game of chess, with characters playing off against each other. The chemistry between the hotel owner and the gent is edgy, full of promise. Yet there is a veiled threat that hangs between them.
The young girl is yearning for a new life. Hoping that she can reignite the feelings shared a few months before with her French lover.
But all is not what it seems? I will say no more about the plot. Suffice to say, it is a thrilling read, beautifully described against the coffee shops and cathedrals of Paris.
This author has done it again, drawing me in, wanting more with each page turned.
Wonderful book.
After finishing my English Degree, my way of reading books has become so critical that I very rarely find a book that I don’t find fault with. However, after reading Black Sparrow I can honestly say that I truly enjoyed it from start to finish. The characters are realistic, all fighting their own hidden battles. Just when the reader believes that they have each character pigeonholed and that they know all there is to know about each one, something new is discovered that constantly puts “the cat amongst the pigeons”. There are some great twists in the plot which impels the reader to devour more. An excellent storyline and a highly recommended book.
This is the third book I have read by this author and from the opening sentence I found myself sinking into the story. The author has a way of drawing her readers in and I loved the domestic intimacy, the thoughtfulness and attention to detail. The story is told from multiple viewpoints, chapter by chapter and what unfolds as a young Muslim woman, Uzma, flees her family in search of a new life is confronting. Overall Black Sparrow is a thrilling and well-paced tale with the essential twists along the way as it builds to a devastating finish. I loved the portrait of Paris in the story too.
This author has used Juxtapositioning of characters, using chapters to describe the activities of each, the desires, the life of each, one against the other in the past. In this book she puts up a young girl, the family of the girl (Muslims), the girl’s lover (an affront against the family), the mother of the lover, and the assassin to create her story. Bringing them together, separating them, using a little political statement of her attitude toward the honor killing of Muslim women by their family, she creates a wonderful thriller. Sometimes it moves a little slowly but as with all books it grows in momentum until a crashing penultimate series of scenes takes place. As usual, with Ms. Griffith’s-Jones, you must wait for and watch for a major twist in the story. The wait is well worth it for in the end this is a really good read that anyone can enjoy. Give it a shot. You will not be disappointed.
Wow, what a disappointment.
A plot that relies on too many coincidences, wooden stereotypical characters and an annoying POV shift in every chapter made me regret starting this stinker. 1 Star, not recommended.