A distinctive and potent treatment of the lingering sorrow of war...a quirky mixture of the earthy and the ethereal * * Times Literary Supplement * *
Strachan skilfully evokes the general sense of war-weariness ... A slow starter, but its fire finally takes hold and burns deep * * Literary Review * *
Extremely compelling...I loved this novel. -- Catherine O'Flynn on The Earth Hums in B Flat
A gorgeous debut * * Marie Claire on The Earth Hums in B Flat * *
Strachan's deft handling of a dark subject is both sober and sparkling. * * Guardian on The Earth Hums in B Flat * *
A delight * * Financial Times on The Earth Hums in B Flat * *
Strachan eschews whimsy for reality in a beautifully written story about growing up. * * Independent on The Earth Hums in B Flat * *
Deeply moving...An impresive and wonderfully absorbing debut, which evokes the atmosphere of a small Welsh town with wit and precision. * * Waterstone's Books Quarterly on The Earth Hums in B Flat * *
A compelling page-turner for all ages. * * Herald on The Earth Hums in B Flat * *
This mesmerising and magical story weaves fantasy with reality and compelling characterisation; it's both spellbinding and inspiring. * * Easy Living on The Earth Hums in B Flat * *
Strachan's finest gift - one which she shares with the late Catherine Cookson, who also made colour out of the black and white of history - is a talent for telling stories with grace and compassion. Almost everyone, even the least of Strachan's walk-ons, pursues a storyline unique to themselves - yet they cross the arcs of others, creating flashpoints, repercussions. The book has momentum from first to last. -- Tom Adair * * Scotland on Sunday * *
A distinctive and potent treatment of the lingering sorrow of war...a quirky mixture of the earthy and the ethereal. * * The Times Literary Supplement * *
Strachan skilfully evokes the general sense of war-weariness ... A slow starter, but its fire finally takes hold and burns deep. * * Literary Review * *
A historical family saga...with crisp narrative ability, a non-judgemental eye for the often irreconcilable complexities of love, and no small amount of mystery. * * The List * *
The warmth of the storytelling overs compensation while, in the depiction of a nation seeking solace in radical politics and spiritualist seances, Strachan manages to bring something original to an old, old tale * * Financial Times * *
Timeless ... you could pick [Blow on a Dead Man's Embers] up and read without any sense at all of when it was written, only a very clear one of when it was set. * * Curious Book Fans * *
its fire finally takes hold and burns deep * * Literary Review * *
crisp narrative ability, a non-judgemental eye... and no small amount of mystery to strengthen the blend * * The List * *
