Book review: The Stranger’s Guide to Talliston, by John Tarrow
Thirteen-year-old Joe lives alone in a hideout in an abandoned bus, where he fled after his family was attacked. He knows his parents will come and find him, and he hopes it will be soon, as he’s about to run out of the medicine that keeps him alive.
When he finds himself inside a strange council house, he discovers a labyrinth that protects one of the last magical places on Earth. Using a book called The Stranger’s Guide to Talliston, Joe is transported across thirteen times and locations, pursued by a mysterious and frightening cult who seem determined to destroy him.
This book was inspired by the real world Talliston House and Gardens, which was transformed by the author from a three-bedroom semi-detached house in Essex to a maze of elaborate rooms and gardens. It’s a magical adventure aimed at younger readers that is influenced by mythology and fables from around the world.
Each chapter sees Joe move through time from one magical location to another, from an Italian palazzo to a New Orleans mansion, to a remote lighthouse in Norway. Along the way he meets a series of unique characters who guide him through his journey, protecting him from the cult-like Grim Grotesques who pursue him violently. I was particularly fond of Evangeline, a young servant girl who Joe meets in New Orleans, and Captain Lars Thorstad, who they meet on an isolated Norwegian island.
Throughout the story, Joe discovers more about who he is, ultimately uncovering a shocking secret about his family.
There is plenty of spectacle and drama in this story, with fantasy and sci-fi elements to appeal to a range of readers. With the story moving through so many settings and time periods, sometimes characters were introduced who then disappeared quickly as the narrative – and Joe – moved on. I would have liked to see more of some, and it would be easy to imagine the author choosing to write another book set in one of these worlds: he certainly has plenty of material to choose from.
Find out more
The Stranger’s Guide to Talliston on Amazon, Waterstones and Goodreads.
N.B. I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.