Incendiary, written by award-winning author Chris Cleave, tells the story of a young widow who, in the aftermath of tragedy, must struggle to find a path to navigate the events of her life. It is a gripping story of survival, love, innocence, and loss told in a lyrical and heartbreaking prose.
The novel is set in present day London where peace is a fragile thing and terrorism has touched the city’s residents in some way or other. This is a world where family members have been murdered and terrorist attacks have devastated communities. We meet our main protagonist, ‘the Widow’. She is 25 years old, a single mother of an infant son and widow of a London Underground Bombing victim. In the middle of her grief, the Widow finds herself part of a strange conspiracy involving the bombing she lost her husband to and a radical Muslim cleric arrested for it.
One night, the Widow is sent a mysterious letter which seems to be from her dead husband, telling her of the events which led up to the bombing and how to stop it from happening again. This leads her down a path she never could have imagined. She must stand up against the religious fundamentalists who planned the attack to and use her own strength and intelligence to prevent further attacks.
Along the way, we are given glimpses into the Widow’s past and her relationship with her husband. It is revealed that their time together wasn’t always happy and the story of their relationship is one of broken hopes and dreams. As the Widow begins her journey towards uncovering the truth, she realises that to protect her son and the city she loves, she has to dig deeper and find the courage to face her own fears and uncertainties.
The Widow’s story is interwoven with stories of other individuals who, like her, are directly affected by the terrorism. Through these narrative threads, the narrative paints a vivid picture of how terrorism disrupts the lives of everyday people and how modern society struggles to come to terms with it.
Incendiary is an emotional story of resilience and courage in the face of great odds and the power of love to overcome any obstacles. It is an important book in today’s society, exploring themes of terrorism, loss, the power of narrative, and strength in the face of adversity. Chris Cleave’s victory in the Abacus Book of the Year Award is a testament to his skill as a storyteller who is able to evoke great emotion from his readers and make them think about the complexity of modern life. Incendiary is an unforgettable novel that utilizes beautiful prose, suspense, and a deep understanding of the human experience to evoke powerful emotions and open its readers to the importance of understanding and tolerance.
