Review for The Bridge of Deaths

M.C.V Egan

Title: The Bridge of Deaths
Author: M.C.V Egan
Publication Date: June 13, 2011
Source: Author
Summary (from Goodreads)        

 On August 15th 1939, at the brink of World War II, an English plane crashed and sunk in Danish waters. Five deaths were reported: two Standard Oil of New Jersey employees, a German Corporate Lawyer, an English member of Parliament, and a crew member for the airline. Here is a conceivable version of the events.


                  Review

The Bridge of Deaths is almost like a mystery. A mystery that mixes both real facts of the author’s life and experiences and fictional aspects that she created.

There is a lot of information in this book. A lot. It almost felt like I was back in school in History class, and it's no secret (at least to those I was in class with) that I slept through most of History. However, I found The Bridge of Deaths, for the most part, interesting. Maybe it's because it's actually the author's history and by reading it I could tell how much of her heart and soul has gone into this book and all her research.

But at times that’s exactly what it felt like I was reading: pure research and not an actual story. As much as I understand that the facts that Catalina had collected over the years were important to her and the story because that’s what the plot was about, I found reading about all the files and books somewhat boring. Some of the lists were necessary to the story line (like the names and background information on the passengers) but then there were others that I felt just didn’t need to be part of the book, like listing all the books that remained in the box or the ones she was sorting to either keep, store or shelve.

I did like how the author intertwined fiction and non-fiction. Putting herself and her journey in the story was a very personal thing to do and it gives you more than a glimpse into her life. The fictional part is one of the main characters. Egan states in the introduction that Maggie, her friends and parents are purely fictional. I didn’t really think much about that when I started reading, but the more I read the more it almost saddened me that there is no Maggie. As much as the book is tied to Catalina and Bill, I felt that Maggie was really the heart of the whole thing. She encouraged Bill to find answers, she helped Catalina discover the truth and yet, she’s not at all real. I really loved the personality that Egan created for this character. She was fun and open-minded and really just a pure joy to read. She brought life to the book.

As someone who is intrigued by past lives and psychics, tarot readings, etc. I really enjoyed Bill being hypnotized and telling what happened in his past life as Clifford. That revelation was my favourite part of the book.

There was also this line that I loved: “….so as few lovers do, they became absolutely honest with each other.”  I loved this because of the truth behind it. Even though I deeply love my husband (a term a use loosely since we are in fact not married but always call each husband/wife), there are things that I have not told him, and will never tell him... They aren't things that would harm our relationship, so I see no need to spill my guts entirely to another person - even him.

All in all, I thought it was a good read. A little too fact informative for my taste in parts, but I did enjoy it. There were, as you can tell, parts that I even loved. I think Egan did a very good job in penning her grandfather’s death.

**I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. 

1/2