World disasters often throw up novels when the initial drama has died down but the event is still fresh in people's minds. Human tragedy is a rich source of ideas for a novelist, and it isn't surprising that a novel like The Killing Sea should follow in the wake of the terrible tsunami that struck Indonesia on Christmas Eve 2004. Richard Lewis does what most authors wrapping a fictional story around an actual disaster do. He focuses on a handful of characters and describes how the disaster affects their lives. Sarah is an American teenager on a sailing holiday with her younger brother and parents. She doesn't get on with her mother, her brother Peter is annoying and her father is busy steering the boat. Ruslan lives with his mechanic father in a coastal village in Indonesia. He dreams of being an artist and spends his spare time either drawing in his room or working at the local coffee shop. Sarah and Ruslan have no idea their lives are about to be turned upside down. Ruslan and Sarah survive the giant wave but have a fight for survival ahead of them. The Killing Sea is a powerful and disturbing read, despite some false notes that smack more of fiction than fact. The Killing Sea Richard Lewis Published by Simon and Schuster ISBN 978 1 416 92628 3
