Miranda Darling

Thank you NetGalley and Scribe UK for the chance to read and review this book.

While Thunderhead is an excellent depiction on domestic violence and the forms it takes, the 109 pages should not be read lightly. The stream of consciousness style is well done but thats not an easy thing to read and requires a lot of focus; to be honest, had the book been longer I may not have finished it. That being said, it may an excellent jump back into this style or the type of focus needed for it if you're out of practice.… (mais)

In case you haven’t heard of Miranda Darling, she’s also the author of The Troika Dolls, another book about the protagonist of The Siren’s Sting, Stevie Duveen. Although it might be helpful to read The Troika Dolls, The Siren’s Sting can easily be read as a stand alone book (which is what I did). Despite Stevie’s name, she’s a feminine girl who knows her labels as well as her weapons. While this is a high action thriller involving pirates, weapons and secret armies, this book also appeals to label lovers (Stevie has some great Pucci clothes) and those with a wanderlust for living the high life in exotic European locales.

The book opens with Stevie acting as protector (or officially, ‘companion’) to a famous opera singer on a cruise ship. When the ship is attacked by pirates, Stevie is on the case, helping to stop the ship from being taken hostage. Back on dry land, Stevie is then asked by her boss (who she has a crush on) to assess the security risk of an old flame of his, whose husband happens to run a private army with a few ‘extra’ sidelines… The story then moves to Sardinia where Stevie joins the jet set on one of the flashiest superboats in the sea. Posing as a vacant socialite, Stevie finds out that nothing is as it seems, everyone has an agenda – and one of them is trying to kill her…

It’s not all yachts and YSL though. There’s the return of Henning, who Stevie met in the first novel but still knows very little about. She thinks she likes him and there’s a touch of romance. Henning’s mother, Iris, is also a well-written character who influences Stevie’s feelings. Minor characters such as Stevie’s cousin and fiancé (possibly the most annoying girl in the world) provide some light hearted relief.

The settings of this book are also envy-inducing. Stevie resides at either her grandmother’s villa in Sardinia (which is described in such glorious terms I’m putting it on my holiday list) or her flat in Zurich. She also spends time in Turin, Venice and Spain. Darling paints the settings very clearly in the mind, and the interiors tend to reflect that character’s place in this shady world.

For an action novel, there’s very little use of guns and there’s not endless bodies littering the pages. The action is based on innovative technology (such as ceramic guns – Darling, via Stevie, explains why these generally don’t work), double crossing personalities and characters not knowing each other’s agenda. Darling’s style is intelligent action and the novel would appeal to both men and women.

While I’ve been writing this review, I’ve just bought a copy of The Troika Dolls to read. I think Stevie is a character who will be with us for a long time and grow stronger and stronger with each novel. Well done Ms Darling.… (mais)

With a James Bond-esque feel, The Siren’s Sting is set among the playgrounds of the very rich in luxury yachts and coastal mansions from Italy to the Mediterranean. It is a lifestyle of privilege and power populated by ruthless business men and glamourous women.
As an undercover risk assessment agent, Stevie is supposed to remain removed from her clients lives, but a favour for her boss, David Rice, involves her a deadly game of modern day piracy, kidnapping and the amorality of the uber-rich who play by no one’s rules.
The Siren’s Sting has a fast paced, action packed plot that teeters on the boundary of believability but nevertheless is entertaining with clever twists. Darling delves into the seamy side of those to whom money and power mean everything and have no qualms at profiting from an innocents fear or death. It’s actually quite frightening to consider there is likely a truth to the author’s fictional auction scene.
I liked Stevie, she is determined, capable and keeps a cool head under pressure but I felt she lacked passion. Perhaps the author relies on the reader having read Troika Dolls to get clearer picture of who Stevie is and how she came to join Hazard. There are hints at the events in Troika Dolls, particularly when Henning surfaces, and what I would assume are reminders of Stevie’s background, but they tended to be rather vague. Stevie’s relationship with Henning obviously begun in the first book and his appearance in the middle of this case leads to some fairly low key romantic tension.

I wish I had read The Troika Dolls, the book that introduces Stevie Duveen, before reading The Siren’s Sting because though not strictly necessary I think the background would have added to my enjoyment of this thriller by Australian author Miranda Darling. Once a globe trotting lingerie model, Darling entered academia earning a Masters in Strategic Affairs which gives her fictional international story of terrorism and corruption an edge of credibility. The Siren’s Sting is one of the 50 Books You Can’t Put Down chosen for Australia’s Get Reading 2011 Campaign and is an absorbing thriller with a major cliffhanger twist at the conclusion that will lead to the third Stevie Duveen novel. I am interested to see how Miranda Darling will develop the characters and story and look forward to her next release.… (mais)