A Sealed Fate Creates Quite the Scene

REVIEW by STEVE of A SEALED FATE

Thrillers can be so cookie cutter today, so it was nice to encounter one that clearly was not. A Sealed Fate draws readers in by setting a fantastic scene: an outsider’s view of Dubai.

And setting, for thrillers, is so important. To really feel the tension, one must be able to really see the setting, to imagine oneself in it. It’s no easy task, but Lisa Gordon does it well, painting for us a detailed picture of life in Dubai, providing us with a variety of creative, independent characters that make the plot pop even more.

Valda is a woman with a broken past, seeking a new start, a new life, in a new land. But as things seem to be turning in her favor, she meets a billionaire sheikh, and all bets are off. Her friend, Larissa, an astrologer, tells her that both she and the shadowy sheikh are sealed together (hence the title), but at the same time, she keeps some secrets back from Valda.

Gordon’s novel is a short one, and that works in its favor. She keeps her plot moving at a quick pace which keeps the reader’s attention, yet she doesn’t quicken it enough to skirt around character depth or setting detail. It’s the type of book that is easily read in a few sittings (or even one, if you’re truly hooked!), but it stays with you as well. Gordon’s writing style lends itself well to mystery and suspense. If she keeps it up (which I’m sure she will), she’ll have plenty of more great stories coming our way!
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