KEY POINTS:
THE THIRD ANGEL
By Alice Hoffman
Random House, $36.99
If you haven't read Alice Hoffman yet, this is a good reason to start.
Set in the UK, Hoffman's novel weaves a complex, interlinked tale set over three eras - the late 90s, the 1960s and the 1950s. Her descriptions of each period are pitch-perfect.
The story takes a bit of concentration but with three interesting women characters in a state of crisis, most readers will be happy to go along for the ride.
Through there are three women here, the central story is that of an American girl, Lucy, visiting England in the 1950s, who becomes drawn into a love story that goes tragically wrong.
This is escapism at its best - and if you don't believe me, believe some of Hoffman's impressive fan base, which includes Jane Smiley and Jodi Picoult.
