I have to say straight out: Loretta Goldberg’s The Reversible Mask is one of the best-written books I’ve read for a very long time.
It’s billed as a historical mystery but it’s much more than that, the journey of a soul in troubled times. Edward Latham is a Catholic at the court of Queen Elizabeth I but, unable to reconcile his beliefs with his service at court, he flees to Scotland to offer his service to (Catholic) Queen Mary. But Scotland is as unstable as England is unsafe and it’s only the beginning of Edward’s adventures.
As he careers around Europe in the service of various Catholic powers we learn about his life and his loves, his good side and his bad. The portrayal of the battles between his heart and his head, his faith versus his inherent allegiance to his country, all make for a sensitive and, in the end, compelling portrayal.
I say “in the end” because this book isn’t without its weaknesses and the middle section seemed to drag for me, to the extent that I almost gave up on the book. It was a section where Edward is in Constantinople pursuing information on the Ottoman Empire’s trade policies, and while this isn’t quite as dull as it sounds it’s certainly a section where there’s relatively little action. The main part of it is Edward’s romantic adventure with the man who seems the love of his life, but the section is too long a lull in what’s otherwise an action story. (There is an scene where Edward and his servant disguise themselves as a camel, but that was all the action, and I found it more than a little unbelievable).
I feel a bit mean criticising the book in this way, especially given that Goldberg’s writing is so deliciously inventive and luxuriant, but the best books marry plot, pace and character in the perfect balance and for me this book didn’t quite deliver in this respect. It’s definitely one I’d recommend, though.
Thanks to Netgalley and Madeglobal Publishing for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
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