"Adamant Eve" begins with an IRA car bomb blast in the Piccadilly Circus area of London and ends in an equally startling manner. Between those two extremes lies an interesting plot structured around an English upper class family and Eve Eden, an unfortunate young lady who finds herself caught in a web of political terrorism and criminal drug smuggling. "Adamant Eve" is not a quick read by any means, although surprises, a love story sub-plot, apt foreshadowing, violence, and threats of violence along the way perk one's interest in the main plot.
It is a rich read, however. The Rutherford family, with their cousin Sean O'Neill, Eve's love interest, are all bright and mature characters with broad knowledge in science, religion, history, and music. Through their honest, informed dialogue, the reader learns much about the history and present state of the Anglo-Irish conflict.
In addition, everything from gun and population control to female genital mutilation to cosmology to welfare mothers to sailing to such a timely topic as the intrusive and callous press come up in appropriate places in varying degrees of comprehensiveness.
Two important characters are bona-fide Cockneys with genuine accents who add spice and humor to the novel. Another character whose influence increases as the plot moves along is Eleanor, an American from Oregon, touring England. From her we hear references to her home state along with an overabundance of the expletive "Wow!" as she reacts enthusiastically to her London experiences. A little Americanese for comic relief.
Readers of "Adamant Eve" become the benefactors of Braybrooke's varied life experiences.
Active in the Church of England in his youth and once even encouraged by a Catholic priest to study for the priesthood, Braybrooke has a unique background in both religion and science that oozes fecundity in the book's dialogue. Braybrooke combines his knowledge of science and experience with war in a creative way...
A rich read indeed, with plot to keep you turning pages and much fascinating content to ponder.