Changes

Each block of chapters covers a certain year showing how the cultural history develops alongside the development of Sam, Maddy and Hannah in such a convincing way that I had to read the novel with a search engine handy to separate those who were real from those originating in Russell James' imagination. (Notes at the back would have been nice for this but if you have access to a computer or decent library, it's not a huge setback.)

My only mild grumble is that ''The Exhibitionists'' feels like two books jostling for prominence under the same cover. The artists were so fascinating they deserved a book of their own and I also wanted to spend more time with the children, feeling that their development was sometimes interrupted rather than enhanced by having to leave them to go back to the artists. (I know – I'm a contrary oosit sometimes!) However this is a minor gripe and I could bore you for ages recounting scenes and nuances whilst never running out of enthusiasm myself; the sign of a good read. Indeed, if Russell James is 'a cult' as one critic termed him, he deserves the wider audience that ''The Exhibitionists'' will attract. And then perhaps he could write some more historical fiction/faction fusion… please?