The Brightest Star in the Sky

By Marian Keyes (Penguin, $37)

THE BRIGHTEST STAR

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Marian Keyes has a nice touch when it comes to whimsy, and she employs it to good effect in The Brightest Star in the Sky.

The narrator of the story is an unseen character, which could get tricky in the hands of a less-able author, but the device never gets away from Keyes.

Brightest Star is set in one particular block of flats in Dublin, where the lives of residents of four of the flats are about to change, although they don't realise it yet.

With This Charming Man, Keyes went darker than usual, with the topic of the novel being domestic abuse. The Brightest Star in the Sky is lighter in tone, but there's still a dark thread running through the novel that's effectively used.

Keyes keeps a tight rein on her characters, and you're never lost trying to remember which storyline you're reading.

The Brightest Star in the Sky is a good summer read – not too demanding, but very readable with intriguing storylines and engaging characters.

- © Fairfax NZ News