I got into this book straight away but around half way through became exhausted by all the colour descriptions of everything. Then I thought to myself how overwhelming it must be for a child to perceive the world in an entirely different way to everyone else around them. How awful it must be to not have face recognition, so much so that when you're in an uncomfortable environment you can't even glance up at your parent or spouse to see a reassuring face. So I persevered and I'm really glad I did because it all pulls together in a very clever and very tidy manner. A most unique and individual book that stands out for all the right reasons.

It is very different and interesting. A captivating story which I enjoyed once I got into it although found the start slow and difficult to comprehend at first

The idea behind this book and the premise of a main character with both synesthesia and facial recognition problems was a good one but adding autism into the mix was possibly one difficulty too much. It did remind me ( and I’m sure many others) of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, which I loved. But where this should have been great I found it just too long. The middle section seemed to drag on and it wasn’t until the last third of the book that the pace picked up to an enjoyable level.
I felt it was okay, where a bit more editing would have made it really good.

Loved this book. Reminded me of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.
(Full review coming shortly)

I'm often intrigued when I find a book with a unique concept or perspective at its core and from reading the synopsis, this book definitely held that initial appeal for me.

Jasper is a 13 year old boy with synaesthesia (his type meaning he can see colours associated with sounds) living with his widowed father who retired from the Royal Marines to care for his son following his wife's death from cancer. Life with Jasper is not easy - he also suffers from face-blindness, meaning he can't recognise faces at all, even that of his father and this has led to him developing his own personal techniques to help him identify people – usually to do with what they are wearing, the tone (and colour) of their voices and use of certain words. He remembers his Mum as colbalt blue, and this is obviously a comforting colour for him.

He adores art and tries uses colour to tell stories, the stories of what happens to him in his day to day life, but they just look like a mess of colour to most people.

One day, Bee Larkham moves into the street after inheriting her mother's house. She's sky blue to Jasper, which isn't quite the same as his Mum, but close enough that that he becomes quite obsessed with her. Much to the chagrin of her grumpy neighbours, Bee starts to feed and encourage the wild parakeets that have taken up residence in her garden and tree. Jasper is delighted by this as birds, especially colourful birds, are his other big obsession.

After a series of unfortunate events, Bee has gone missing and Jasper becomes convinced that she's been murdered – and also that he and his Dad might have been somehow involved. This leads to all kinds of struggles on Jasper's part to deal with everyday life and the world that's going on in his head, including his inability to be a reliable witness to the police due to his conditions (it's implied that he's autistic from a book that his Dad is reading). Throughout all of this, he's constantly trying to figure out how to save and protect the parakeets.

This book is very unusual, it's a difficult read at times because Jasper's descriptions becomes quite repetitive and frustrating, but that's surely a reflection of what's going on inside his head? One of my biggest gripes was that as we started to understand what kind a of person Bee really is, there was a big reveal, the nature of which I'd guessed a long time earlier.

I did finish this book, and I really enjoyed the first half, but I'll be honest, from just after the half way point I should probably have just flipped to the final chapter to find out what happened at the end! Beautifully written, and a very clever idea, but unfortunately not for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the review copy. This is an unbiased review of the author's work and style. If you want plot lines and spoilers please see the publishers blurb and other reviewers' reports.

I did not know what to expect from this volume in fact its selection as 'Richard & Judy book club pick of 2019' nearly put me off. But, the title made me curious, which shows that snobbishness can cost you experience if you let it.

Sarah Harris's writing enthralled me from the first sentence -"Bee Larkham's murder was ice blue crystals with glittery edges and jagged, silver icicles. " It drew me in and before I knew it I was half way through and sagging as the night had nearly past.
Some have criticised it as being 'Trendy' but to my way of thinking it is innovative and if at the start it is a little difficult to read and comprehend, it is worth the effort and rewards the reader.
My suggestion is give it a try it is really worth it.
Five stars all the way.

Thirteen year old Jasper has autism, sees sounds as colours, and can't remember faces. He might describe someone therefore by the colour of their voice and the pattern on their socks. Neighbour Bee Larkham is missing. Jasper believes she has been murdered. An intriguing, very quirky, whodunit.

I bailed out a quarter of the way in because I found the sole narration by Jasper wearing however. I may try again....

Jasper is 13 and suffers with synesthesia and can’t recognise faces. The premise of the story is good and I had been looking forward to reading this book, however I really couldn’t get into and found it just wasn’t for me.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the book in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting story. At first I admit to being a little irritated by reading about all of the colours that Jasper could see but as I got into the story I began to understand him more and enjoyed the mystery of who had killed Bee Larkham. On a deeper level it was interesting to read about Jasper’s condition and how it affected him and those around him. I recommend this book.

This is such an original novel with an appealing narrator, 13 year old Jasper. His life isn’t easy and I became more and more fond of him as the story progressed until I was desperate to know that life was going to turn out okay for him and his ex-marine father. Bee Larkham is their neighbour and Jasper is attracted to the parakeets in her garden. At the beginning, I wondered if I would get into the book because there are lots of references to colour and these slowed down my reading but I needn’t have worried, soon I was gripped by the story and the writing style. I didn’t want the book to end. It made a nice change to read it as it’s very different from the fiction I usually choose. Jasper’s honesty is refreshing and there are many amusing moments although there are some serious themes too. Definitely worth reading!

I really enjoyed this book - narrated by teenager Jasper, who has autism and also synaesthesia, meaning he sees sounds as colours, and also prosopagnosia, so he can't recognise faces. Something happens to a neighbour and Jasper feels it is up to him to deal with it - along with his father, neighbours, and police officers, all of whom he identifies through the sounds of their voices and clothes. A very interesting concept and a good mystery.

Jasper has a condition called synaesthesia - this in itself is unusual and intriguing but when this rare and compelling condition indicates a murder has taken place, intriguing goes to a whole new level.
I couldn't put this book down. An absolute delight and quite unique.

Synaesthesia, face blindness and autism. You would think this an arduous combo, but Jasper has learnt to navigate the world as best he can. Synaesthesia being the gift that sets characterizes Jasper and creates his vivid world of colour and vibrancy. And although synaesthesia is something that Jasper can’t simply turn off and on when convenient, the reader really gets a feel of how amazing this affliction can be, and how Jasper relishes this realm that sets him apart from others.

A large part of the story is relayed through the redrawing of memories and the comparison of the outcomes. These drawings aren’t of people or objects, but of the colours of sounds that make up Jasper’s interpretation of the world. The before and after pictures form the two main timelines we are taken through as the mystery of what happened to Bee Larkham is unravelled.

“Bee Larkham was my friend, 95.7 per cent of the time. She was good and bad and thousands of shades in between”.

I enjoyed getting engrossed in how Jasper views the world, and his related trials and tribulations.
Mixed in with a bout of mystery, family dynamics, rich characters and an enjoyable plot you have yourself a great read. The amount of research and attention to details Sarah J. Harris must have carried out makes one appreciate the book even more.

Thanks you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a review copy.

Beautifully written but I found parts of it hard going, I did persevere but at times found it quite an effort to engage with
Fascinating subject and very well researched and one of the most unusual books I have read

The Colour of Bee Larkham’s Murder
Sarah J Harris
Publisher HarperCollins

Narrated by Jasper, a young boy unable to recognise faces but gifted with seeing sounds as colour, this quirky, original debut gives a stunning insight into the life of someone who sees things differently.
A well written murder mystery which will keep you guessing right until the end. I really enjoyed it.

I wasn't keen on this book. I liked the idea of the protaganist having kinaethesia but then became really fed up with how often it was used and it started to get into the way of the narrative. The mystery of Bee Larkham and her relationship with boys who came to her house for tutoring and whether the protagonist was involved in her "murder" didin't really grip me.

Not a book for me.

This is a truly a great read. It holds your interest throughout. As you get into it you are unable to predict the end.
It’s a well thought out and well written book, strong characters.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Harper Collins uk for my eARC of this book in exchange for my honest unbiased review

A weird, amazing and entertaining book, I like the creativity of the author. and originality of the concept.
It's not easy to get used to the POV of Jason as you have to relate to someone who sees the world in a totally different way.
After a bit you are moved and entertained by the style of writing and you cannot put the book down.
I loved how well the characters were developed and how engaging the mystery was.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

'The Colour of Bee Larkham's Murder' stands out from a sea of books in all its shimmering glory. The writing is as vivid and colourful as the plot. Reading this book is like a feast for all the senses and one I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end.

I love books with unreliable narrators and Harris has done a beautiful job here. The style is a real delight and it was wonderful to feel my way through Jasper's story and try to see the full story through his unusual lens. As unusual as it is brilliant.

This book is amazing. A whodunnit involving a boy who sees colour in the spoken word and is unable to recognise faces. His love of painting involves the reader from the start. Without giving away the plot, if you enjoyed the Incident of the Dog in the Nightime then you are likely to love this book even more.