In a Field of Blue by Gemma Liviers takes place around World War I, primarily in France and England. This novel starts with a mystery when a woman shows up with a child, claiming he is the son of a man lost in the war. Rudy, his brother, beings a journey to find what really happened. What follows is an intricate series of events and people.
Through separate timelines, the author slowly reveals what happened for certain characters individually to get them to that same point in the story. Some of the stories are heartbreaking, some frustrating, some a bit predictable.
There were a few times in reading when I found myself frustrated with how the point of view shifted (usually at a climax which was annoyingly interrupted). However, after a while, I appreciated how the author used that method to give the reader pieces of information as she saw fit. Even though it drove me crazy at times, it was very effective at keeping me on the edge of my seat, and I ended up devouring the book in a couple days.
I wouldn’t give this book my highest rating. There is, at times, quite a bit more tell than show. A few significant pieces feel a bit glossed or skipped over. But the story itself is compelling, heartfelt, interesting, and shows some of the harsher outcomes of war people often forget. It got me thinking about how some aspects of war are universal regardless of race, gender, or time period. I would say 3.5 or 4 out of 5 stars. I wouldn’t say you should sprint to read it, but I think if you have a chance to pick it up, you may not be able to put it down.
Dawn Ludlow 