The Hundred and Ninety-Nine Steps by Michel FaberPublisher's Website (Author Page) Amazon (UK) Amazon.com Canongate Books (ebook), 2001
98 Pages
BLURB
Sian, troubled by dark dreams and seeking distraction, joins an archaeological dig at Whitby. The abbey's one hundred and ninety-nine steps link the twenty-first century with the ruins of the past and Sian is swept into a mystery involving a long-hidden murder, a fragile manuscript in a bottle and a cast of most peculiar characters. Equal parts historical thriller, romance and ghost story, this is an ingenious literary page-turner and is completely unforgettable.
OPENING SENTENCE
THE HAND CARESSING HER CHEEK was gentle but disquietingly large - as big as her whole head it seemed.
REVIEW
The Hundred and Ninety-Nine Steps is a good novella. I've read and loved the author's novel, The Fire Gospel so I've wanted to read more of his work. I liked a lot about The Hundred and Ninety-Nine Steps. This novella is well-written, interesting and really engages the reader. I liked the characters, especially the dog. I liked Sian deciphering the scroll and learning of Mary's tragic fate centuries ago. I liked Sian revealing her unhappy past. There are some things that let it down. I don't feel this works as a stand-alone piece of writing and really comes across as the opening of a much longer piece. I felt like I was reading something incomplete. I thought it was strange that the attraction between the main characters doesn't go anywhere. Faber makes it clear they're attracted to each other and this sort of fizzles out. I did enjoy The Hundred and Ninety-Nine Steps and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, interesting read despite its flaws.
