Revolver

Sedgwick writes primarily for the young adult audience, but his books have much wider appeal and are always thought-provoking reads for adults too. I am a huge fan of one of his previous titles  Blood Red, Snow White , and I also really enjoyed  The Kiss of Death . So I was really looking forward to reading this, his latest book.Revolver is the story of a boy and a gun - a Colt forty-four forty revolver to be precise. It's set in the Arctic north, where three continents meet around the North Pole. It starts in the northernmost town in Sweden, Giron (Kiruna), and Sig Andersson is sitting alone at home, except for the corpse of his father, who died falling through the ice that day as if he was running away from something, or someone.Sig's sister and step-mother had gone for help, leaving the young teenager to think about his father and their hard life up in the Arctic, but also his late mother. When Sig was little, they had lived in Nome, Alaska during the gold-rush of 1899; Sig's father Einar was an assay clerk in the claims office. Einar's most prized posession is a Colt revolver - it lives in its original box in the storeroom, and needless to say, Sig has always been fascinated by it."`A gun is not a weapon, Einar once said to Sig, `It's an answer. It's an answer to the questions life throws at you when there's no one else to help.'Sig hadn't understood what he meant by that. Not then."While Sig is mounting his vigil over his father's body, there is a knock at the door. But it's not the help he was waiting for, it's a giant of a man who has come looking for Einar, to claim back what he thinks is his. Wolff knew Einar back in Alaska, and has a tale to tell of gold and the corruption and lust it brings. Now Sig knows why Einar kept a gun; if only he could manage to get it out of the storeroom. Einar had let him and his sister shoot the Colt just once to know what it was like."He tried not to smile, for Anna's sake, but inside he felt the best he'd ever felt in his whole life. It had felt amazing, incredible, indescribable. It hadn't been frightening at all.The only frightening thing was how easy it had been, but it would be years before he understood that."The tension rises with each short chapter, and there is a definite frontier feel to this novel with its themes of gold and guns. The far north too has never seemed as cold as when Einar is explaining about the effects of sub-zero temperatures on gunmetal - as always, Sedgwick's research is top notch. Ultimately though, Sig's dilemma over whether or not to use the gun is the most fascinating part of the story and makes this short novel a great little thriller making it my first five star read of the year. Blood Red, Snow WhiteThe Kiss of Death

I really enjoyed this tale predominantly about Sig who's left alone in a cabin in the Arctic circle with only his father's body for company until a stranger appears at the door. Told in several parts with flashbacks to the past this story will keep you turning the pages. A good crossover YA read in my opinion, well written and atmospheric.The cover is a little off putting but I suppose it does make a statement.I liked the way the sections of the book start off with a page that gives the year and area that the story takes part in with a gun being built up as the story unfolds.

Christmas present for a friend, so cannot review it, but it looks good.

Bought for 13 year old son who has fell away from reading as he finds little to engage him as he is not into vampires and zombies. This was read very quickly and chosen over ipad and phone. There is no higher praise from a teenager!

our son 11yrs loved this book, arrived quickly well packaged. Nice quality,good value, would buy again,