a selection of reviews for the dynamite room
Images: The Dynamite Room launch party, by Philippa Gedge
“With its unshowy, confident prose, this novel is accomplished, resonant and surprising, and poses some of the delicately handled questions about whether redemption is possible, and at what point a good heart becomes forever besmirched”
“A strangely poetic second world war thriller... Ambitious and often gripping [with] a tense and dramatic climax - a very promising first novel”
“Well-crafted and engaging... [Hewitt] artfully explores family and identity, and how war changes the lives of both soldiers and civilians”
‘superb. absorbing, suspenseful and with a beautifully poetic touch’
Nathan Filer, author of The Shock of the Fall
“An emotionally charged character study in which [Hewitt] explores the loneliness, fear, hope, and shame that war visits on ordinary people. Mystery and general-fiction book groups will enjoy dissecting these characters and their nuanced story”
“Explores what can happen to a good person swept up in a bad cause, and how the maelstrom of war sears its youngest victims. The themes of the novel run closely to those of another recent work, All the Light we Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr. In the hands of writers less skilled than Hewitt and Doerr, these novels might have been horror stories of rape and murder. Hewitt, however, poses some profound questions”
“A claustrophobic psychological thriller, as powerfully visualised as a screenplay... An unusual, intricate drama delivered with accomplishment”
“A claustrophobic and formidable first novel that builds to a devastating climax”
“This gripping first novel is a book for the ages, so engaging and well written, I did not want it to end. Very highly recommended”
'This World War II mystery is oozing with period character and dark nostalgia'
Bella
“Deeply thought provoking... Hewitt superbly conveys the contrasting elements of tension and friendship in the relationship between captor and captive – between a vulnerable child and an adult in a position of power. Claustrophobic, tense and thoughtful”
“Suspenseful and powerful. A novel of great humanity that exposes the absurd contradictions of war”
“A debut of startling originality and quality portraying a side to the Second World War that is usually left unspoken”
“A gripping read, which delves into the impact of chance meetings, unexpected relationships and one man’s war with himself”
“Intensely cinematic... An exciting, fresh and moving novel, brought to life by Hewitt’s strong characterisation”
“A compelling debut novel that immerses the reader in the desolation of war... Intricately crafted and beautifully told, The Dynamite Room is both heart-breaking and redemptive”
“Intelligent, unusual and utterly captivating... One of those rare gems that leaves you heartbroken by ending but desperate to turn back to the first page and start all over again”
‘Compelling and descriptive’
We Love This Book
“The prose style of the book, which I found very reminiscent of the Irish literary style ( a la Toibin, Trevor etc), the depth of research, and beautifully drawn characters, were completely satisfying. Excellent.”
“Grabs you from the outset and refuses to let you go. A compelling, powerful and humane book”
“Clever and unsettling, this most unconventional of war stories had me totally gripped”
“An effective psychological drama between two extraordinary characters... Readers who loved The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas will have a strong affinity with The Dynamite Room”
atmospheric, tense and most engaging
Lovereading (Editor’s choice)
“For a reader who wants to lose themselves in a brilliant, eerie drama, Hewitt delivers exactly what the reader is looking for. An explosive and enticing novel. Definitely worth a read”
“A thoroughly absorbing read and shows incredible insight on the part of the writer. An excellent first novel”
“Stunning... I was gripped throughout and the final scenes had my heart pounding”