November Book Club :At First Light

'At First Light' is an excellent read with a gripping and interesting story. The idea of beginning with the identity of the killer and the victim isn't a new one, but this focuses your mind for the story to follow (I kept returning to the initial chapter to identify characters as they appeared throughout the novel). We are certainly taken through so many emotions; some beyond our understanding as we were not part of America's history. My understanding of the KKK was that they were white racists and never knew of their added hatred of Jews, Catholics and masons. This is a very rich book and I have already looked at the author's Pinterest link to see her photos of the Keys, Manuel Cabeza etc. I love books that spark an interest which take you beyond the story and this is such a book. Wonderful book club selection.

Would not be a book of choice for me but I enjoyed it and found it a good read.I found the characters were well described and believable. The subject matter was fascinating , it took me a little while to ‘ get into it’ but I will now buy the authors first novel as I like her style of writing and found it to be a refreshing change from my normal reading. I have now passed it on to my neighbour.

I`m 3/4 of the way through the book now, and loving it, just as much as I loved Summertime. I love Vanessa Lafaye`s style of writing.

Thank you for this excellent book!

The book is set in Florida, and starts with a murder, by a 96 year old Cuban woman. She admits her guilt and begins her story to explain why she killed an old man, a Ku Klux Klan official.
It is a riveting story, which grabs you from the beginning and keeps you interested right to the end. It is well told with well portrayed characters and a great feeling of atmosphere and place. The story begins in 1919. Alica has been forced to leave Cuba and make a new life in Key West – a brothel the unlikely place to begin again. John is a soldier returning from Europe, thinking his fighting days are over. They fall in love and decide to live together, but mixed relationships are frowned upon and the Ku Klux Klan have been invited to town.

What comes over is the heart breaking distress caused by racialism and intolerance. Alica and John just want to live happily together, but they can not and John, having fought against the Nazis now must fight against a similar threat from the Ku Klux Klan.

Thank you GN for another very good book choice. I've thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, a real page turner. I'd heard of the atrocities carried out by the KKK in the past, but like some other posters hadn't realized it also included Jews, Catholics and Masons. They truly are abhorrent.
I don't have any questions about the book for the author, as she gives a lot of information about the background for her story at the end. However, I will ask if she has another book in the pipeline? I've downloaded Summertime onto my kindle to read.

You won`t regret it Mapleleaf, it`s an equally good book.

Thank you callgirl1. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Just finished At First Light and echo the comments above as to it being an excellent book that opened my eyes to the ways of the KKK.
I was rooting for Alicia all the way from 1919 to 1993.
The fact that the author had based the book on a true story was not surprising.
I will be downloading Summertime too.

Finished it, and LOVED it, thank you GN.
Am now reading A Christmas Candle, by Katie Flynn. Set in 1939.Nice read so far.

Oh dear, I'm out of sync with the rest of you here. I haven't enjoyed this book, and I think it could have been so much better, given the subject matter. I found the writing style a little dull and repetitive, and I was expecting so much more from it. Truth to tell, I'm struggling to finish it, and will be skipping through the last 60 pages. I think the rot set in for me during the scene when the main characters were meeting the evil Jose and his men in the dead of night at Smathers Beach. The silly, childish behaviour of Alicia, our strong female role model, in what was a life or death situation - laughing and clapping her hands in delight just because she saw the water sparkling, putting them all in danger - made me cringe. It all seemed unworthy of a woman who could calmly stab her abusive husband in the goolies. Two pages later and she's at it again, letting out "a squeal of delight" and of course falling in the water, in "a cloud of hair lit up by the glowing green sea". All a bit Disney for me, I'm afraid.

I realise I'm in a very small minority here though, as the plaudits for this book are more or less unanimous on Amazon, Goodreads etc. Perhaps it's because I'd just finished re-reading my favourite Kate Atkinson - very few could follow her, imho.

Oh dear, I'm out of sync with the rest of you here. I haven't enjoyed this book, and I think it could have been so much better, given the subject matter. I found the writing style a little dull and repetitive, and I was expecting so much more from it. Truth to tell, I'm struggling to finish it, and will be skipping through the last 60 pages. I think the rot set in for me during the scene when the main characters were meeting the evil Jose and his men in the dead of night at Smathers Beach. The silly, childish behaviour of Alicia, our strong female role model, in what was a life or death situation - laughing and clapping her hands in delight just because she saw the water sparkling, putting them all in danger - made me cringe. It all seemed unworthy of a woman who could calmly stab her abusive husband in the goolies. Two pages later and she's at it again, letting out "a squeal of delight" and of course falling in the water, in "a cloud of hair lit up by the glowing green sea". All a bit Disney for me, I'm afraid.

I realise I'm in a very small minority here though, as the plaudits for this book are more or less unanimous on Amazon, Goodreads etc. Perhaps it's because I'd just finished re-reading my favourite Kate Atkinson - very few could follow her, imho.

Oops, sorry, I don't know what happened there!

Oops, sorry, I don't know what happened there!

Or there! Sorry, I think there must be a system error. If this message appears twice too, don't blame me.

Or there! Sorry, I think there must be a system error. If this message appears twice too, don't blame me.

Vanessa Lafaye’s (is that a nom de plume? It sounds so affected! Apologies is this is her given name.) book is one that I would never have chosen. The cover is such that I would not even have picked it up to read the prologue, however… I am very glad that I have received the copy from ‘Gransnet’ as I very much enjoyed the story and the way it was told.

The plot centres around an admission of guilt from an elderly (even older than most of us!) lady who, right at the beginning of the book is happy to take responsibility for a murder.

The characterisations are mostly believable and takes the reader to the darker days of everyday rough life in Key West after World War 1.

Ms Lafaye’s depiction of the return of the Spanish Flu kept me awake one night, such were the graphic descriptions of how victims succumbed to the terrible ‘La Grippe’. Simply shocking.

There were a few minor annoyances, with the central strong woman, Alicia, becoming silly and ‘girly’ at times of danger and endangering those around her but that apart, the characterisations were believable.

I enjoyed the vision of Emily making her deliveries but fear that 'elf and safety' would through a wobbly nowadays (and yes, I know that unpasturised milk is still sold)!

The rise of the Ku Klux Klan were interesting for us who know little about them. The hatred engendered by them filled a vacuum and who is to say it will not happen again, in a slightly different form – we live in difficult times and the analogy is not lost on me.

Ms Lafaye’s ‘Questions for Discussion’ were interesting and the addition of the first chapter of Ms Lafaye’s book ‘Summertime’ will ensure a purchase from me!

I will be researching Manuel Cabeza and sad 'though this story is (although who didn't give a silent cheer when the victim's background became apparent?), it was a thoroughly different and engaging read and much recommended.

Thank you for introducing me to this book - it is not one I would naturally have picked up,being more to my daughter taste ( I will be passing the book on to her).
I did enjoy it, though I admit to skim reading the violence towards John at the end.
I knew the Klan were colour prejudiced, but hadn't realised that they were also anti Jew and anti other minorities. ( including women if the impression I got from the book was correct). It's frighteningly topical considering President Trump's comments and tweets this week.
I found Dwayne to be the more interesting character, as he became aware that the posturing hid a dark intent.
I would be interested to know if the brief mention of Alicia's daughter could be developed into a novel - it's a time and place in history about which I know very little.

I have just finished this book and must admit I almost gave up on it. I am glad I stayed with it but I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had expanded more on the characters. The author’s notes at the end were very interesting and I will research further.

A bit late finishing this book but that is due to personal commitments and certainly not the appeal of this novel. I enjoyed reading Summertime and knew Vanessa researches widely and I was not disappointed with At First Light. Her list of further reading is extensive but she is a writer who does not allow her research to intrude but simply inform the story. I should like to know how much time Vanessa spends researching and whether she then puts this aside whilst writing. It must be very tempting to include everything you unearth and careful selection is clearly called for.
The characters are skillfully drawn so there is little chance of confusion even in the early chapters. I do hope to hear that there is another book in progress.

I enjoyed this book, with some minor reservations like those already mentioned by others. I think it was a timely read, reminding us that odious, hate-fuelled organisations are not confined to previous centuries but still exist today.

Thanks for my copy, as I don't think I'd have selected it for myself.

Thanks for my copy of this novel which I have just finished reading. I enjoyed the story and found the characters interesting, particularly Dwayne. After reading the opening pages of Summertime, was intrigued to see that Dwayne Campbell also featured in this book so will look forward to reading it.

I loved this book although it was not one I would have chosen for myself.It was so well written that I was in tears by the end.It was not a whodunnit but a whydunnit and the end of each chapter left the reader wanting to know more.I certainly want to find out more about the Klan.All the characters were interesting and I was wondering if Vanessa was going to create a story around the character of Daniella who also sounds very interesting from the oblique reference to her.

I would never have picked up this book in a bookshop, so I'm glad it was wished upon me. TBH it gave me nightmares as the subject matter was so harrowing. Nevertheless it was a worthwhile read and well written. Does the author intend to write more about the KKK or does she feel she has said all she wants to say?

Really, really good book from Vanessa Lafaye. As someone who enjoyed ' Summertime' I was worried that this one may not meet my expectations but it exceeded them. Can't wait for the next one from this talented author.