Book Review

Title: On Pain Of Death

Author: Jan Rehner

Publisher: Sumach Press

Released: September 2007

# Of Pages: 288

ISBN: 978-1-894549-66-0

$18.95 CDN/ US $16.95 

5 Stars 

Reviewed By: Kindah Mardam Bey 

I can state that On Pain Of Death is the finest present day fiction I have read in close to a decade. Let it be plainly said that fiction has taken a terrible nose dive into the mundane and is in desperate need of a resurrection. We reviewers of fiction can sound like a broken record as plot lines seem to be uncomplicated and characters as bland as fast food burgers. It would appear that Sumach Press holds itself and its expectations from its authors to a higher standard as any mystery fiction published by Sumach has great storylines, complex characters and a world of depth within the plots and pages.  

On Pain Of Death as a mystery is somewhat a misnomer because it is more to the point a complex historical drama with suspense threaded from start to finish (I don’t think a shelf exists in the bookstore for this category just yet). So finely executed was this novel that I was already imagining who I would cast for the Hollywood film adapted from the novel.  

The story centres around WWII France, and two women Juliette (who would be played by Cate Blanchett in my film version!) a Canadian student who is trapped during the German Occupation, and fiery Gabrielle (played by Angelina Jolie) a woman who’s life is devastated by the Gestapo and so she joins the French Resistance; two seemingly unconnected women who must survive during a time of war. Juliette, through a series of events becomes guardian to an abandoned Jewish child named Sophie, and must do her best to protect and save one Jewish child in a storm of persecution. On Pain Of Death is an intricate and complex story that keeps the reader in suspense at each page turn. It is a riveting, and an entirely realistic plotline rooted in the harrowing truths of ugliness during times of war. 

Author Jan Rehner’s second novel shows the depth and breadth of a talented and eloquent writer who has fully developed her characters and managed to merge history with human nature. Rehner is a compelling writer and could make reading a cereal box intriguing if she had penned its sugary exterior. She has made meticulous efforts to develop both plot and character development in equal parts. I couldn’t read On Pain Of Death fast enough! I had to know what was happening around every twist and turn that Rehner invented. Even as the story unfolds and seemingly irrelevant elements emerge, I learned early on to trust Rehners’ storytelling and simply log the information as it seemed to always be revealed as important in the long run.   

On Pain Of Death is a fabulous read! Just how fiction used to be, with intricate plotlines and robust storytelling, characters you could love and endings you never figure out before they unveil themselves. On Pain Of Death is an extremely enjoyable and satisfying novel that stands alone in its own category of quality and standard. I can’t wait for the movie version to come out on this one!