The Colour of Bee Larkham's Murder - Sarah J Harris

It is not very often that I read a really good book: one that has my attention the whole way through and one with a plot that shifts and twists as I read. Yet "The Colour of Bee Larkham's Murder"  was one of them. This murder mystery contains the genius of an Agatha Christie novel tied in with important current issues. 

"Don't tell anyone what you did to Bee Larkham"
Jasper is not an ordinary boy. In fact, he would say he is extraordinary. Synaesthesia paints the sounds of his world in a rainbow of colours that no one else can see. But on Friday, he discovered a new colour - the colour of murder.
(excerpt from novel blurb)

This novel provides an unpredictable mystery using an original plot line and surprising plot twist by feeding the reader small amounts of information as the story progresses, creating anticipation and an Agatha Christie style. The character of Jasper supplies an insightful point of view, adding depth to the story and  displaying the impacts an autistic child has on a family and in the community. The reader also sees how the death of a loved one affects the characters each in different ways. As valuable as these added layers are, at times they were overpowering, making it difficult to follow the mystery. Also, from chapter to chapter, the point in time changes which can be difficult to keep track of and can add a bit of confusion. Despite this, I love how the whole story is told through the way Jasper sees the world, creating a sophisticated, one of a kind novel.

If you love mystery and detective novels, books that get you thinking or the idea of peering into the world of a boy who sees sounds as colours, then "The Colour of Bee Larkham's Murder" is the novel for you. A unique murder mystery with a twist making it both gripping and insightful, I suggest that this one goes on your "to read" list immediately. 

Thank you for reading this blog post,

~Inkpot Blogger