Pandora's Box - Softcover

Alice Thompson was born and brought up in Edinburgh. She read English at Oxford and then toured the world in the pop group, The Woodentops. Her novella, Killing Time, was published by Penguin in 1991. In 1995 she completed a PhD on Henry James and became writer in residence for Shetland. She is now writer in residence for St Andrew's University.

Scottish author Thompson (Justine, 1998) offers us a New Age fantasy that updates the ancient myths of Orpheus and Pygmalion. Noah Close is a physician who specializes in reconstructive surgery. A rather shy bachelor, he is not used to women showing up unannounced on his doorstep, and he is certainly unprepared to find one there in flames one evening when he looks out. He manages to get her to the hospital alive, but by then shes so badly burned that he is almost tempted to let her die in peace. The hospital staff persuades him to operate, however, and she survives. After some weeks, her bandages are removed to reveal the most beautiful woman Noah has ever seen. Unable to speak, she cannot remember her name or anything of her past, so Noah names her Pandora and takes her home to live with him until her identity is established. Soon the two fall in love and marry, but their happiness is short-lived: One morning Noah awakes to find Pandora in bed beside him, soaked in blood. He rushes to call an ambulance, but by the time it arrives shes disappeared. What manner of creature isor wasshe? Unable to rest, Noah engages the services of Venus, a female private detective who may be a witch, and the two try to settle the mystery of Pandoras whereabouts. Their search eventually leads them to Las Vegas, where an eerie sculptor named Lazarus appears to offer them clues that carry them further from the trail. Has Noah gone mad? Or is there more than meets the eye here? The simplest answer is that this isnt a detective story in the usual sense of the word, although it does involve a quest. It may even offer an answer (of sorts) in the end. Intriguing enough as allegory, the symbolism becomes a bit leaden at times and drags the story downbut doesnt manage to sink it. A good read. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.