Blog Tour: The Bone Church by Victoria Dougherty

Today I'm excited to be part of the blog tour for The Bone Church, a Historical thriller by

Victoria Dougherty. Check out the rest of the tour schedule here!

• Publication Date: April 15th 2014
• Pier's Court Press
• Formats: eBook/Paperback
• Genre: Historical Fiction/Thriller/Suspense

Synopsis

In the surreal and paranoid underworld of wartime Prague, fugitive lovers Felix Andel and Magdalena Ruza make some dubious alliances – with a mysterious Roman Catholic cardinal, a reckless sculptor intent on making a big political statement, and a gypsy with a risky sex life. As one by one their chances for fleeing the country collapse, the two join a plot to assassinate Hitler’s nefarious Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, Josef Goebbels.
But the assassination attempt goes wildly wrong, propelling the lovers in separate directions. Felix’s destiny is sealed at the Bone Church, a mystical pilgrimage site on the outskirts of Prague, while Magdalena is thrust even deeper into the bowels of a city that betrayed her and a homeland soon to be swallowed by the Soviets. As they emerge from the shadowy fog of World War II, and stagger into the foul haze of the Cold War, Felix and Magdalena must confront the past, and a dangerous, uncertain future.

Buy the book: Amazon UK   Amazon US   Barnes & Noble   Book Depository   IndieBound

Review
Two storylines are cleverly woven together throughout the course of this novel: the Nazi occupation of Prague during the Second World War and a rescue mission in 1956 Czechoslovakia. Both storylines feature the novels lead characters Magdalena and Felix. This novel is clearly very well researched, and the author's knowledge of her subject is reflected in her writing. Fact and fiction are expertly blended, and the story gives a fascinating insight into the period - particularly for those like myself who have very limited knowledge of it. An intense sense of paranoia permeated the text, and I felt as if I was there alongside Magdalena and Felix on their journey, wondering who - if anyone - they could trust. A few other reviewers have commented on Dougherty's minimalist writing style - I like it. She gets straight to the point and says what needs to be said and nothing more. Another thing that I liked about this novel was its great use of characters; they all brought something to the story, be it through being entertaining or unsettling. It's no exaggeration to say that the narrative is challenging; it is a lot heavier than I've lately been used to and you really have to be paying attention to follow it. That said, it's worth persevering!
I would recommend this book for anyone interested in the period, and for those who like their books to be on the challenging side. 4/5 stars.

About the Author
Victoria Dougherty writes fiction, drama, and essays that often revolve around spies, killers, curses and destinies. Her work has been published or profiled in The New York Times, USA Today, International Herald Tribune and elsewhere. Earlier in her career, while living in Prague, she co-founded Black Box Theater, translating, producing and acting in several Czech plays. She lives with her husband and children in Charlottesville, Virginia.

For more information, please visit Victoria Dougherty’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest.