Lucy is pregnant after a one-night stand with Sam from Brooklyn. The thing is that’s all she knows about him even if she does still feel that the spark between them was real. The novel opens with a somewhat rebellious Lucy (real name Lucia) working in a bar in Brooklyn, having travelled from Italy, to try to find Sam. Luck seemed to be on her side when she got the job within fifteen minutes of walking in and she hopes her social media posts publicizing her whereabouts might have been spotted by him or someone who knows him, and that he may just feel the same and one day, walk in.

After a few weeks, Lucy has had no luck and is feeling frustrated. Should she keep hoping, or just get on with her life? The surprise offer of a job on a cruise ship, comes out of the blue, and Lucy is tempted by the thought of a trip to Australia. She gives herself five more days to decide – these five days provide the timeline of the novel.

We are introduced to the rich tapestry of characters who inhabit the bar, including fellow staff, regular, and not so regular, customers. Diverse would be one word, however, a rum bunch is a more appropriate description. Scott, Adam, Ryan, Miss Moore, Mr Patel, the Akkad brothers, Harold, Amber – we get to know them all. Scott is not wrong when he remarks, ‘most of our customers are weird’. As Lucy gets to know them, however, it turns out nothing is as it seems. Only the shadowy Amyra seems to know something of Sam but she has to find the right time and place to speak to Lucy.

And all of this is presided over by the picture of a strange cat, Warble, who came in one day and just as mysteriously disappeared, having left his mark. We all know you don’t own a cat!

The reader knows more than Lucy on some occasions but despite wanting to, is unable to warn her, as she stumbles on.

Happy in her work, Lucy feels as settled as she can. Things are not all as they seem however, and she discovers there are people she had no idea existed, people who have a keen interest in the future of her and of her unborn child. As a battle of manipulation unfolds, Lucy is unaware of the danger she is in.

As a down-to-earth northern lass, I found the basic premise a little incredible at first though I guess some would embrace Lucy’s dream. The blurb piqued my interest, however, and compelled me to read on. The path of the narrative was not obvious. Lucy’s friendship with Luana and the others she is introduced to certainly added to the melting pot of characters as well as the intrigue created as the background for each customer gets entwined into the whole. The reader knows more than Lucy on some occasions but despite wanting to, is unable to warn her, as she stumbles on.

There are one or two questions left open at the end for the reader to make their own mind up - or long for a sequel.


At Warble’s Bar is published by Troubador