review by Babs Simpson on show 6th October 2011
The day Nina's father dies, she discovers an old music manuscript, written in his hand, locked away in a desk. Her father was no musical genius so where had this symphony come from, and what compelled him to keep it hidden? The answer lies in a web of deceit and scandal that reaches back fifty years. Now Nina is determind to find out the truth. Digging into her family's past, she is forced to reconsider her own traumatic childhood when her father's chronic and emotionally destructive hypochondria brought the family near to breaking point. Nina's sole
refuge at that time had been the home of her best friend whose parents were world champion of ballroom dancing. There she had found escape in the glittering world of Argentinian tango.
Nina is in her thirties now and leading a very complicated life - the world recession is making daily living more and more dfficult, her American admirer seems doomed never to make it across the Atlantic and the prospect of a relationship with a Finnish tango danger is enormously appealing. As the mysterious symphony forces her to confront difficult questions about her late father, she soon begins to wish she had never unlocked that desk.
This is a fascinating story, very well told, and I found the scenes of childhood depicted particularly well, binging back emotions that I had long forgotten. I can heartily recommend it as an intelligent, beautifully written and intriguing story and I look forward to reading this author's other novels.
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