the setup…
Water…Earth…Fire…Air. These four elements are used to provide illustrative perspectives in four interconnected stories about aspects of crime, originally published as separate novellas. The enabler is about a woman fleeing from her husband’s scandal, wondering about her possible complicity, with the water element having a strong influence. The accomplice is a young man searching for love and identity who becomes a famous soccer player, the last thing he wanted to be, with a connection to the earth element. The perpetrator is a woman who weaponizes her own trauma, fire being the element with which she best embraces. Finally, a man who was victimized as a teen, on a journey with his son to find the air he needs to breathe life into his soul.
the heart of the story…
It’s impossible for me to find the words to give grace to the brilliance of the writing and the emotional thunder of these stories. Each has loose threads of connection to one another and I was spellbound as I transitioned from one to the next. I vacillated between sympathy, empathy and horror as they so emulated the true life human condition.
the narration…
Anna Friel, Colin Morgan, Dane Whyte O’Hara & Niamh Cusack delivered inspired performances, capturing their characters beautifully and giving perfect pitch to the eloquent writing.
the bottom line…
Run, don’t hesitate, and grab this book. If you ever listen to audiobooks, this is the story you want to “hear” but it will resonate deeply in any format. My 17+ hours flew by and I still wanted more, even through moments of extreme discomfort. John Boyne at his finest.
Book Info
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- Release Date: September 9, 2025
- Series: The Elements #1-4
- Narrators: Anna Friel, Colin Morgan, Dane Whyte O’Hara & Niamh Cusack
- Audio Length: 17 hours, 45 minutes
- Publisher: Macmillan Audio
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Blue Mood Café 
Fantastic review, Jo, glad you enjoyed it so much!
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Thank you, Nicki💜
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