Title: In Place of Strife
Author: Elizabeth Reinach
Publisher: Great Writers Media
ISBN: 978-1956517620
Pages: 178
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina
Pacific Book Review
No matter how confident or self-assured someone may appear, everyone at one point or another in their lives has dealt with insecurities. Whether those insecurities stem from their role in their families, personal development, or how the world as a whole sees them, these insecurities linger within us all, and it takes time and effort to find ways of overcoming them. As Yossi Ghinsberg once said, “Despite the natural belittling of one’s self, the doubts, the insecurities, we have to wake up to the realization that we all write our own autobiography, we are the authors of our life story. Realizing that, write a good story with your life and make sure to write yourself as the protagonist. Be the hero of your journey.”
In author Elizabeth Reinach’s In Place of Strife, the author explores how insecurities impact a group of people working inside of a management unit within an English Council. Facing insecurities both sexual and personal, these five workers must take on a multitude of issues, from drug running and brothels being managed out of a housing department, to straight up murder. They must find a way to solve these issues as they come their way, and find a way to become the people they know they can be.
A truly engaging and insightful read, this book really takes readers on a personal and introspective journey of the everyday crisis which appear in our work lives, and how the prejudices and hate filling our world can have real consequences on us all; set against the backdrop of serious crimes running rampant within England. The setting added an extra layer of depth to the narrative, as the combination of politics and leadership within the British nation is so well documented and intricately detailed in the narrative. However, what really stood out was how much character growth led the narrative overall. The way each character was highlighted and their inner struggles were explored so naturally made this such a relatable and mesmerizing read.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy character-driven mysteries and thrillers. In Place of Strife is such an interesting story choice I absolutely loved, because while the crimes being explored in this narrative and the thriller aspect is very intriguing, and yet they provide more of a support aspect to the individual characters themselves, they help elevate their growing journey to become the people they want to be and resolve the struggles they have faced every day, making this such a uniquely balanced thriller.
Inspiring, thoughtful, and entertaining, author Elizabeth Reinach’s In Place of Strife is a must-read novel. The perfect balance of engaging settings, rich character development, and thought-provoking mysteries, the author really gives readers a gripping story which they won’t want to let go of.
