Best Blurred Boundary - The Strawberry Thief by Joanne Harris

Publisher – Orion

Published – Out Now

Price - £14.99 trade paperback £1.99 Kindle eBook

Vianne Rocher has settled down. Lansquenet-sous-Tannes, the place that once rejected her, has finally become her home. With Rosette, her 'special' child, she runs her chocolate shop in the square, talks to her friends on the river, is part of the community. Even Reynaud, the priest, has become a friend. 

But when old Narcisse, the florist, dies, leaving a parcel of land to Rosette and a written confession to Reynaud, the life of the sleepy village is once more thrown into disarray. The arrival of Narcisse's relatives, the departure of an old friend and the opening of a mysterious new shop in the place of the florist's across the square - one that mirrors the chocolaterie, and has a strange appeal of its own - all seem to herald some kind of change: a confrontation, a turbulence - even, perhaps, a murder

One of the trickiest bits of a series is how you make it approachable for a new reader. If its too filled with back story then you’ll end up confused, get it right and the reader has a lot of enjoyable reading to come. For this blurred boundary nominee, we have the fourth entry in a series I’ve been meaning to read for a while. I came into The Strawberry Thief with little knowledge of its previous storylines but found an entrancing tale of intriguing characters all finding their lives and their positions changing.

In the French village of Lansquenet, the death of Narcisse, an elderly florist sets in motion a chain of events that have huge ramifications for several of the prominent villagers. The local priest Reynaud is puzzled to find the traditional non-religious Narcisse has appointed the priest as executor of the will. For the town’s magical chocolatier Vianne and her unusual daughter Rosette it will lead to stranger events. The death leads to Rosette inheriting land that Narcisse’s property developing family desire while Vianne finds the newest occupant of the empty shop is a tattooist with powers perhaps equal to her own. Each of these three characters has to find their way through the events but also face up to who they are and their own secrets.

It was very pleasing as a newcomer that I didn’t feel I was missing out a lot of insider knowledge in this tale. I get just enough to understand the world that Harris has created and the dynamics and histories of the characters. This actually makes the place feel quite alive with depth to it (and yes intriguing to get to those other books) and this works as this story is about the main characters facing a challenge to their current status. This isn’t a book about people wanting to do something to their lives but Narcisse’s death setting in motion events that means they have to work through it and face some personal demons they may not have been admitting to even their closest families.

We alternate between four narrators. Reynaud finding that Narcisse’s will is bringing back memories of a secret he has been harbouring for years as Narcisse has written a final testament/confession for the priest that reminds him of his own youth. What I enjoyed here was the two characters who have a reputation for keeping their feelings and life stories well hidden actually telling us a lot more about each other. Narcisse has a tragic family secret to impact that reminds us the past was not always the delight some like to think it is. Reynaud, I found a very complex character fond of his village but perhaps not always wanting to be pleasant or with everyone. For me the key for these types of characters is can I get to understand why they are that way and Harris makes both of their arcs very poignant. They’re both troubled souls trying to work themselves out.

With Vianne and Rosette’s narratives we get a mother daughter relationship that is really interesting. Rosette would probably be classed as autistic in her behaviour but Harris adds in a magical dimension that she shares her mother’s powers and as we see in her narration is just as perceptive as anyone else even if still trying to work out what the world is. While Vianne uses her peers to scry people’s desires and histories Rosette seems to also have an affinity for the wind which if she is troubled or upset brings chaos for those around her. Vianne is a mother perhaps finding her life is beckoning change – her eldest daughter lives far away and seems to now have her own life and Rosette too is starting to pull away as she grows up. The arrival of a tattooist who shares her powers and reminds her of people she distrusts makes her start to feel the life she’s carefully built up is pulling apart. What I really enjoyed about these two characters was I found myself starting to change my opinions of them. Initially I seemed to presume that Vianne was simply guarding and protecting her daughter but as the story progressed I found Vianne actually a little less sympathetic as she seemed to be the person most afraid to accept change while for Rosette is finding her place and her own way of expressing herself. None of this is shown too judgementally and across the story I liked that this was story without any huge antagonists/battles. This was much more a tale about personal growth and facing your fears but still managing to tell tales of joy, sorrow, love and pain.

Here the boundary is the way the magic of Vianne and Rosette are weaved into this tale of a French village. Its not overt and often feels more atmospheric but Harris’ writing is great at weaving stories together and beyond the main character’s we get lots of snippets of folk tales, and little moments of people’s lives all creating a wonderful magical tapestry where by the end you suspect these events were always going to happen as the magical world wanted these characters to change. Probably the subtlest of the nominees I’ve read in merging the fantastical with the real world, but I think without it the story would have felt less alive.

This was a hugely enjoyable read taking me into a very different type of world to the one I’m currently facing. Harris has a wonderful ability to make her characters complex and alive matched with some deft storytelling. For those wanting a story of hope and change but not afraid to look at the flaws in people then this feels a great place to visit – also huge desire for chocolate will follow too!