"As a freelance historical researcher, Hugo becomes excited to find out that the quest involves a Sunflower painting by Vincent Van Gogh thought to have been lost during World War Two."
Journalist Hugo, has lost the woman he loves and everything is going wrong for him. A man, Femi, takes him on a quest, but he has no idea why, where he’s going, or what he’s got to do when he gets there. As a freelance historical researcher, Hugo becomes excited to find out that the quest involves a Sunflower painting by Vincent Van Gogh thought to have been lost during World War Two. It is a subject that fascinates Hugo and he becomes more animated and keen as he realises, but Femi keeps him in the dark insisting on calling the – artefact – “it” and with more information on a need to know basis only. There is a lot of internalisation with Hugo as he attempts to understand the problems of his past with his therapist. I was surprised to discover an interest in the life of Vincent Van Gogh as I continued to read. Having finished reading this book, I feel sure it is a book that benefits from more than one read-through to create a greater understanding of Hugo’s troubled life.
Burnt out, broke, obsessive freelance journalist Hugo Jenson sees his world closing in all around him. Feeling suffocated with simple daily tasks, he struggles to maintain functioning in today’s society. He has lost the woman that loved him unconditionally, lost respect professionally from his colleagues and has debt mounting all around him. Just when he felt all was lost, a stranger befriends him and takes his hand on a quest to redeem himself on every aspect of his life. Hugo chases the lost Sunflower of Vincent Van Gogh to prove his obsession was not futile in nature. A new friendship brings Hugo validation in himself and seeks to settles the monsters within him. But what is unleashed instead, is far worse than he could have ever imagined.