“Zelas judiciously employs the parallel storyline technique to good effect ... This exploration of how two women mature and find inner independence is sensitive and trenchant. Threads of hypocrisy and racism provide lively trigger points ... Her aim is unerring ... She has produced a novel that sits comfortably in its New Zealand skin ...The storyline maintains a steady pace ... Key characters are fleshed out into realistic personalities, and there's an acute eye and ear for nuance.”

— Bronwyn Dorreen, The Waikato Times

“...a fascinating tale ... There is a seamless transition between Brigitte's letters and the contemporary narrative ... a compelling story, well told with some charming turns of phrase.”

— Rosa Shiels, The Press

“Sue Spencer is having a mid-life crisis (though Zelas describes it much more effectively) ... [and] decides to explore her genealogy (and once again, Zelas puts it better) ... Parallels build between her and Brigitte/Bibi ... [b]oth women face dislocation, solitariness, the loss of parents, the estrangement of a partner ...The alternation of past and present narratives is a conventional but strong structure that keeps the plot swinging along ...The writing is full of information and reflections ... Characters are varied and mostly authentic ... Another success worth noting is that Zelas makes genealogy seem absorbing and rewarding. Some of us would regard this as an almost superhuman achievement.”

— David Hill, ‘Canvas’, The New Zealand Herald

“... don't miss out on a great book”

— Lynne Walker, Taranaki Daily News

“fascinating from the perspective of those who came over as immigrants ... [There are] parallels between [the historical and contemporary] characters”

— Lynn Freeman, The Arts On Sunday, RadioNZ National

Click here to listen to interview.

“It's a mystery story, in a sense, [which] drives the narrative ... I can thoroughly recommend Karen's new novel ”

— Morrin Rout, ‘Women On Air’, PlainsFM

Click here to listen to interview.