Mrs. Papadakis and Aspasia

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Vivid and warm portraits of life on Crete as seen by expatriate American women, these two novellas are a delight to read from start to finish. Initial worries that the author would duplicate storylines are unfounded. 'Mrs Papadakis' follows a familiar theme of a 30-something heroine, Carolyn, contemplating her life choices and work/life balance and questioning her place in a busy, achievement-oriented city existence. She moves to Crete to enjoy a simpler life and the novel follows her adventures and experiences in a new culture. There is a strong comic element and lively characters, and colour is added with Greek phrases sprinkled throughout. The style of writing does tend to veer from real-time diary to travelogue to romantic comedy and this can sometimes disorient but is also part of its appeal. Carolyn is a very likeable heroine. Through her first-person account, she explores her thoughts and feelings with a real sense of honesty, experiencing genuine emotions and doubts about how she has chosen to live her life, and the ending to her story is touching and unexpected. Wetzel takes a risk with 'Aspasia'. It explores family life on Crete, but the suddenness of a truly shocking storyline jolts the reader. This is no happy travelogue but an altogether more disturbing story about the strengths and weaknesses of family life. The dark past of the main character, Katherine, is only gradually revealed via a monologue which communicates with an impressive directness to the reader. The first-person narrative, in the tradition of a dramatic monologue, leaves the reader feeling complicit in the preceding crimes. The resolution of the story is surprising and many questions are left unanswered. Wetzel's writing is powerful, intelligent and humorous, and this book deserves to sell well. (Kirkus UK)