Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt by Lucinda Riley and Harry Whittaker

Book Blurb
1928, Paris. A boy is found, moments from death, and taken in by a kindly family. Gentle, precocious, talented, he flourishes in his new home, and the family show him a life he hadn’t dreamed possible. But he refuses to speak a word about who he really is.

As he grows into a young man, falling in love and taking classes at the prestigious Conservatoire de Paris, he can almost forget the terrors of his past, or the promise he has vowed to keep. But across Europe an evil is rising, and no-one’s safety is certain. In his heart, he knows the time will come when he must flee once more.

2008, the Aegean. The seven sisters are gathered together for the first time, on board the Titan, to say a final goodbye to the enigmatic father they loved so dearly.

To the surprise of everyone, it is the missing sister who Pa Salt has chosen to entrust with the clue to their pasts. But for every truth revealed, another question emerges. The sisters must confront the idea that their adored father was someone they barely knew. And even more shockingly: that these long-buried secrets may still have consequences for them today.

My Review
The Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley is one of my favourite series of books and I have been so excited to finally read this final instalment. Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt not only tells the story of Pa Salt, but also of how he found his six adopted daughters, searched for the seventh, and the stories of other key characters including Ma and Georg the lawyer. This is about all I am going to say about the plot as I want readers to experience this wonderful book for themselves.

Sadly Lucinda Riley died two years ago leaving The Seven Sisters series unfinished but luckily her son, Harry Whittaker, has stepped in and finished the book as Lucinda wished. I have to admit that he has done an amazing job, this final book is absolutely stunning in both the plotting and the writing. We finally learn about the mysterious Pa Salt in his own words in the form of his diary. His story covers eighty years and takes him from France to Australia, Norway to America and sees him work in a bookshop, become a musical prodigy and work in Opal mines. In the course of reading his story I loved finding out about he met Ma, who looked after the girls, Georg his lawyer and Claudia the housekeeper, characters we are familiar with but know nothing about but still played an important role in the books, and there are plenty of surprises along the way.

I have to say how impressed I was with the writing of this book, how it flowed seamlessly, and didn’t feel at any stage that it was the work of two authors which testament to Harry’s writing. Taking part over the majority of the twentieth century I felt that the atmosphere of the century was captured, from the end fall out from World War I, to the horrors of World War II and the advancement of society over the years. This book put me through a myriad of emotions, the highs and lows of Pa Salt’s life, the love and the loss, the thrills and adventures along the way all pulled at my heart. It is very rarely I cry at a book, but I did cry at the end of this, not only because it was such a beautiful read but also due to the realisation that this is the end of this phenomenal series, that I would no longer be part of the D’Aplièse sister’s lives. I will also admit that Harry’s tribute to his mother brought a tear to my eye as well, I will really miss Lucinda Riley’s talent as a storyteller.

Lucinda Riley’s Seven Sisters series will forever hold a place in my heart so it is no surprise that I loved this final book. Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt answers all those questions you have had from the previous books and a few more you hadn’t thought of. Over the years I have been lucky enough to talk to Lucinda Riley about these books and I have to say I was a bit smug at one of my predictions being true, which of course she never confirmed. Harry has done a amazing job in finishing this book, and I’m sure Lucinda would be proud. This is a truely outstanding read and a fitting end to this enchanting and exceptional series. Keep a eye out as I have an interview with Harry Whittaker coming shortly.