The story of the book takes place in the USA in a future time; while reading it I was often reminded of the book 1984. The world is described as a dark and depressing place where people are rated by their debts and have to be valuable for their society.

Doyle and Gen are living in one of the bedrooms of a family-house they are sharing with four other families, which has become the common way of living. Doyle is made redundant as a teacher and Gen, a doctor, is pregnant and both are facing the fear of losing their future child to the state because of their financial situation. The only solution is a job on a cruise ship with a doubtful purpose. The couple has to fight for their family and their faith in a world of terror within a system of alarming ideology.

Additionally, another couple is introduced in the story, Owen and Summer who are joining the cruise ship with Summer’s twin-sister Spring and her husband Lewis. The couples are in their 90s and uncommonly fit for their age – demonstrated by their playing Pickleball in a tournament- which seems to be a normal thing in this future world.

Besides the depressing scenery the story is placed in, I was intrigued by this book. The author has painted a picture of a (very possible) future of our world and politics and it is not very appealing as you might imagine. People are living in depressing surroundings, always in mind that their financial situations can suddenly change and with it everything they own and know. Even though the world has become a difficult place, the people seem to keep a strong attitude with a strong will to fight for their peace.

I have to say, I was impressed by the well-plotted story and the engaging writing-style. The idea of the story is another asset of this book. Who else would have thought of this kind of a cruise ship? Additionally, the characters are very present and I enjoyed learning more about them with every chapter. Most of all, The Belinda Triangle made me think about our future and how likely a world like the one described in Hoffman’s novel would be.

About the Author

Dick Hoffman was a real estate appraiser for 39 years and 10 months. Over the same period he was a part-time writer of poems, stage plays, screenplays, short stories and novels. He’s now doing the same thing full-time, more or less.

He attended Texas A&M before it became a university. Before it had a creative writing program. Before it discovered women.