The Invisible Mile

"[11] Indeed, the "suffering of these athletes (many of whom, save for the unnamed narrator, are based on real-life figures) resonates with their shared trauma from a war that played out just 10 years earlier....

In varying parts philosophical action-adventure, travelogue, family drama, war chronicle and psychological puzzler, is suffused with the ever-querying perspective of its haunted central character.

"[13] The New York Times stated the book is "Gorgeous.... Coventry’s brooding narrative, in varying parts philosophical action-adventure, travelogue, family drama, war chronicle and psychological puzzler, is suffused with the ever-querying perspective of its haunted central character.

What emerges is a novel in the tradition of Don DeLillo (Libra), Toni Morrison (Beloved) and Thomas Mann (Doctor Faustus), writers who try to think through the way history takes hold of the individual, the almost demonic violence inspired by the place where people and events meet.

"[18] Brian Clearkin at Landfall wrote: "a brilliant tour de force of writing talent and style that richly rewards the reader.

"[19] With Olivia Macassey at Takahē magazine stating "Coventry seems to have arrived fully-formed in our literary landscape with this fascinating debut.