By: Gillian Jackson
Narrator: Helen Lloyd
ISBN: 9781666665710
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Bloodhound Books
Publication Date: 06/17/2024
Format: audiobook
My Rating: 5 Stars (ALC)
Can the sins of the past be left behind?
A gripping, emotional novel of guilt and forgiveness by the bestselling author of Remembering Ellie.
Helen Reid has received a devastating diagnosis—and as she contemplates the life she’s lived, she is haunted by a terrible mistake she made in her youth after her boyfriend Rob struck a cyclist with his car. Compelled to find some sort of redemption, she journeys back to her old hometown to track down her ex and finally bring the truth to light.
But Rob isn’t quite so ready to face his past, and it soon becomes clear that he’s willing to do anything to avoid the consequences.
Will Helen find redemption—or revenge?
WHEN THE END OF OUR LIFE IS INETITABLE...
HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO DIE WITHOUT REGRETS?
My Review
Master storyteller Gillian Jackson returns following The Accident with her latest powerful haunting novel, A MEASURE OF TIME —A gripping, introspective, and thoughtfully reflective emotional tale of guilt, regret, grief, and forgiveness.
Bittersweet yet ultimately comforting, uplifting, compelling, and full of hope, a woman faces an impending death from terminal cancer, haunted by a dark secret from the past, while on a quest to come forward against all odds with the truth before it is too late.
About...
Helen Reid, only fifty-nine, has received the untimely diagnosis of ovarian cancer spread to her other organs, and too late for chemo. First, she needs to visit her son and daughter (grown twins) with their own families. Her husband died years ago, and now she only has her group of women friends and her family.
Of course, the women (loved them) will be sad but will celebrate life with her while they can. Helen is keeping a journal of her thoughts and the things she wants her children to know about her life. (beautifully written).
There are some things she is not proud of with regrets from the past. An accident occurred when she was a teen. She was a passenger in a car with her boyfriend (bad boy Rob) after sneaking out of the house with her girlfriend. It ended in tragedy when he struck a cyclist. This has haunted her her entire life. She has kept this secret until now.
She was guilt-ridden, but then she was just a scared teen. Rob threatened her, and she was afraid to go to her parents and the authorities. However, now she is dying. She has nothing to lose. She cannot go to her death without setting the record straight and giving the boy's family closure and peace. Rob needs to be held accountable for his actions.
Compelled to find redemption and forgiveness, she journeys back to her old hometown to track down her ex and finally bring the truth to light. Rob is now married to her friend and very abusive. He denies it and tries to turn it around on her.
Helen is stressed and weak with her declining health and needs to be making arrangements for her death, hospice, getting her affairs in order, and enjoying what time she has left with those she loves, but she is tenacious and refuses to die until the wrongs have been righted.
From past to present we hear from Helen, her daughter, the hospice nurse, and her old friends. Will she find redemption or revenge? How are the characters tied together? The twist you will not see coming.
My thoughts...
A MEASURE OF TIME is beautifully written and bittersweet, I resonated with this one in many ways. As we get to a certain point in our lives we reflect on past, regrets and what we would have done differently.
Helen is a courageous character who loves her family. She wants desperately to rid herself of the guilt from the past and ask for forgiveness from the boy's family. A deft exploration of death and grief — bring the tissues.
A wise and thought-provoking story blended with mystery and tension. The author writes with compassion and sensitivity. I enjoyed the journal entries, which are written with lyrical prose and are meditative, thought-provoking, and reflective.
A MEASURE OF TIME is full of wisdom, unflinching and unforgettable, and will linger long after the book ends. An emotional, resonant story of the power of human connection, time, death, grief, reflection, hope, forgiveness, and what it takes to live life with no regrets.
While I enjoyed The Accident my first book by the author, I loved A MEASURE OF TIME! I look forward to reading more of her backlist and upcoming books—I love her writing style, and her background is reflected on the pages with emotionally charged topics.
Audiobook...
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Helen Lloyd, who had a perfect voice for this profoundly moving tale filled with mystery, suspense, intrigue, love, and loss. It was very engaging and compelling —I highly recommend it.
Recs...
For those who enjoy literary fiction, mystery, suspense, domestic, and women's fiction. I highly recommend this author, her writing, and A MEASURE OF TIME. For fans of Elizabeth Berg, Fredrik Backman, Jessica Strawser, Diane Chamberlain, Catherine Ryan Hyde, Rea Frey, and Rochelle Weinstein. (all favs).
Many thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this gifted, advanced listening audio copy. I also pre-ordered the e-book.
Blog review posted @
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: June 17, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars
About the Author
Having worn many hats in my lifetime, writing is certainly one of the most fulfilling. I initially pursued a career in childcare before moving on to train as a therapeutic counsellor and eventually to a role in the voluntary sector with Victim Support. My five years with this incredible organisation provided a wealth of experience and insight into the criminal justice system. The diversity of people using the service has enriched my own life experience and understanding of human nature, which I hope is reflected in my writing.
I mainly write crime/domestic thrillers, although three women's fiction novels are in the pipeline for 2024. WEBSITE
