Rose Tremain – Trespass

I don’t get to use the words ‘grotesque’ or ‘sinister’ or ‘oppressive’ very often in my reviews. And I hardly ever get to use those words and mean them in a good way – something to relish. Oooh, Rose Tremain, you have made me all ghoulishly shiverish.

Trespass is set in a part of Southern France which is supposed to be all serene and idyllic. Instead, it’s hellishly insular – magical, yes, but bad magic. A bitter alcoholic struggles to maintain his home and dreams of making millions. His sister gazes malevolently across the road at him, plotting her revenge. A failing antiques dealer comes to the region to try and rebuild his life. His devoted sister welcomes him, the sister’s lover despises him.

So there we are. Two sets of siblings with incredible complicated relationships. Each of them disappointed and dissatisfied with life. A horribly grim atmosphere. Makes you think about justice and betrayal and comeuppances. You can see the disaster coming but need to keep reading to see it happen. A book to guzzle in a couple of sessions. Too addictive to put down and not a single word wasted. I don’t normally like books where the main characters are so unlikable and difficult to empathise with, but this is a cracking read.

Not very Valentine’s Day-esque, but whatever.