Alone is a Well-Written Entertaining Novel

Alone is a pleasant read. SM Ford's style of writing is reminiscent of Jane Austen. The plot never dulls and the characters continue to intrigue the reader. I did think that Cecilia seemed way too practical and much older than a young twenty-something year old (hairpins, high collars, etc,.). I was also thrown by her desire for Simon, who was such a womanizer and very blatantly invaded her personal space. Because this story is written in the first person, I found it difficult to accept that she was drawn to Simon and not aware, initially, of her feelings for Mark. The plot, though, continues to keep one's attention as Ford crafts an entertaining story here; unlike many authors, Ford is able to excite the reader about the simple day-to-day life events. Although this story is classified as mystery suspense, the feel of it did not occur until nearly the end of the novel, so the sudden shift was a bit jerky and brusque. However, being a lover of suspense, I found the unraveling mystery surprising and exciting. Overall, a highly recommended read.