Book Review: The Weaker Sex by Frances M. Thompson

´We need more allies, not enemies´.

Actually, the weaker sex is not so weak any more. In literature and in real life too. 

I haven´t read anything by Frances M. Thompson that disappointed me. She is not only a beautiful and talented writer but each of her books to explore not only new universal human feelings - like love, loneliness, longing, maternity and love again - but are becoming more and more complex in terms of structure and character development. So far, The Weaker Sex is her best ever, because it looks like she offered herself, finally, the freedom of following up characters and imagining complex encounters and settings. I love short stories and creatively playing with literary limitations, but a novel requires a completely different level and category of writing skills.

´Because we women have been raised to see sex as shameful, and so what do we think about a woman who sells sex?´

I will try to not delve too much into the details of the story, still trying to outline its character and touch. In The Weaker Sex, that from a certain point of view can be considered a suspenseful thriller, women are in charge. Maybe some were victims once, but they are not waiting for someone, men for instance, to fight for them. They can revenge themselves. 

M. - short for Madam - created a trust-based society of women that are ready to make pay those who hurt them. Sometimes using the cover of sex workers, they are creating circumstances or learning about future targets. Set in London, it reveals the secret world of double names and forgotten identities. There is a touch of unspoken mystery about where it will lead to and many suspenseful twists keeping the reader fully connected to the narrative. 

The writer is in full control of the story and is admirably playing with different situations out of which unexpected conclusions and encounters follow. The intertwined timelines of the past and ´now´ to operate at a point-counterpoint pace that takes the story to a new level, while discretely revealing details that may determine the new course of action.

As for the characters, they are not only relatable, but also strong in the way in which they conceal their strengths. In The Weaker Sex, women are more than a pleasant literary pleasant emotional, in love, being brought out of love. They can do anything they want, from arts to getting a diploma and creating successful businesses and streams of income to killing in the cold blood usually attributed to men.

I am so glad that Frances M. Thompson wrote this book. And she should keep writing more such beautiful novels. Writing is a gift that should not be kept for oneself only. 

Rating: 5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered by the author in exchange for an honest review