Shades of Yellow
Shades of Yellow is a dual-timeline novel, though not in the usual sense. Wendy Dunn’s central character is Lucy, a woman facing divorce after her husband’s infidelity cracks their bonds. She also faces a resurgence of her cancer. Lucy is a writer compelled to finish a novel which leads her to postpone treatment for a trip to England for research. She is exploring the mysterious death of an Elizabethan woman, Amy Robsart, the wife of Lord Dudley. Yes, that Dudley, the one Queen Elizabeth loved. Lucy and Amy are women in vastly different circumstances sharing the timeless experience of betrayal. As the story unfolds, Lucy faces her family worried about her health and her erstwhile spouse begging for reconciliation. Amy is strategizing to secure Dudley from the queen.
The clever part is the way Amy enters the narrative as Lucy sees and experiences her, supplemented by site visits for the story and research. Amy’s voice is transmitted through Lucy’s recording of the thoughts, setting, and vision of Amy and her events. Dunn, like many current writers, brings a fascinating story with lots of gaps in the record to today’s reader. Lucy is us, with life complications. The arrival of Amy in the middle of Lucy’s day and life feels right. This is a story of complicated choices. There are no easy answers for either Lucy or Amy. Each woman makes decisions that alter her life. We know, from the start, for Amy it ends in a death in questionable circumstances. Award-winning author Dunn cleverly crafts a tale worth reading. Highly recommended.
