Song for an Approaching Storm

This remarkably accomplished debut novel is a chilling political thriller set in Cambodia in 1955 on the eve of the country’s first democratic elections. Over the course of 30 days we follow the three main characters as they manoeuvre their way through a dangerous political minefield. The novel is divided into three sections, each narrated in the three distinct voices and from the perspective of each of them, giving the reader an in-depth and all-round insight into what is happening in the country. Sar is the first person we meet. He is playing a dangerous game of double dealing as he works for the Democrats whilst secretly being allied to the Communists. We know him as Pol Pot, the evil genius behind the Khmer Rouge revolution.
Sary is allied to Prince Sihanouk and is a rival in love to Sar for the attentions of Somaly. The suggestion is that if Sar had won the battle for Somaly’s heart he would never have set out on his cruel path of destruction. This sounds far-fetched but the author makes a convincing case for it. It must be remembered that this is indeed a work of fiction, although it is firmly based on real events and the author heard the story of Sar’s broken heart from survivors of the Khmer Rouge whilst he was doing research for a non-fiction book. At the very least it’s an intriguing and thought-provoking idea. Whatever the truth of the matter, this is a riveting and totally compelling political thriller which brings a time and place and historical moment vividly to life and gives the reader a glimpse into the long-vanished society of 1950s Cambodia. Highly recommended.