21 June 2001.
ISBN: 978-0-75284608-6 (HB)
Gerald Haxton leads a solitary life, surrounded by nostalgic artifacts at the TV prop-hire company where he works and spending much of his time at the theatre. He is proud that he has seen Starlight Express 215 times. Living at Mrs Clarks boarding house and nearing retirement he has a routine with which he feels safe. But when he sees a young girl with a startling resemblance to his dead sister Vera, he feels that he should follow her just to see that she is all right.
As the sight of the young girl causes Gerald to reminisce, we learn of his still-born twin brother Jack who he considers his only real friend. His mother Marjorie Haldane, the famous children’s author. And the discovery in 1944 of the body of his murdered sister Vera, which has haunted him all his life.
The extracts from the diary of Gerald Arthur Haxton, aged 8 are a marvellous insight into the main character of the story, providing the reader with knowledge of Gerald which is so opposite to the picture portrayed in his current world. ‘Monday 4th September 1939, Mr Paddick has lost his teeth. It was dark and he rode his bicycle into some sandbags in the lane and his teeth fell out, and now he cannot find them again, so it is the first casualty of the war. Mrs Paddock said that Hiter has got a lot to answer for. Aunt Tilly has come to stay with us.’
Following the young girl becomes a habit for Gerald, so when she goes missing Gerald’s life disintegrates and the fragments scatter with surprising consequences.
As with Laura’s two previous books she writes from multiple points of view with skill. From Gerald’s diary, flashbacks to the life of his sister Vera, and his memories between 1938 and 1944. We hear from Tilly, Marjorie’s sister, now 87 and live the years of the second World War through her eyes, fleshing out the story given through the eyes of 8-year-old Gerald. And in the current time Jo, mother of twelve-year-old Mel who goes missing. As these three people narrate their stories, the reader is transported back and forth in time, and slowly the reader watches with wonder as the several threads are gathered up and woven together to provide a fascinating mystery giving insight into the lives of several people drawn together by destiny.
A truly compelling read. Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes
Laura Wilson was brought up in London, where she
was born and raised. She has degrees in English literature from Somerville
College, Oxford, and UCL, London. She has worked as a teacher and editor of
non-fiction. Many of her novels have either a historical setting or a distinct
historical connection, and often have split or dual narratives. Her first
novel, A Little Death was shortlisted for a CWA Dagger award, and
her fifth, The Lover was short listed for both the CWA Gold
Dagger and the Ellis Peters Historical Dagger. She lives in Islington, London.
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