This was a disturbing book from the outset – a baby goes missing and a mother’s anguish is palpable from the first page. Wondering if she is just in a bad nightmare she retreads her steps hoping against hope that the baby will be back in the car where she left her. When that doesn’t work the panic sets in and throughout the book revisits the reader reminding us that some things are never safe.
Thirteen years later and you are seeing the world through the eyes of solicitor Robert Knight. Newly married he tries to puzzle his way through the enigmatic behaviour of his new wife, and her mysterious reluctance to allow her daughter to attend and participate in activities at her new school where her talents in music are recognised. As he digs, the mystery grows and his wife’s past starts to disturb him and threatens to destroy their happiness.
This is a complex novel and initially was very hard to get into as it was not a “light” piece of reading entertainment. Covering delicate topics such as adoption, child abduction, prostitution, divorce and separation this book is not one undertaken lightly. The way in which the story is told is by mixing past and present, along with the different perspectives of the different characters involved. This creates a complex weave of style and approach, which enhances the story and its impact, whilst making it more demanding on the reader.
I found this book quite disturbing, but it is a strongly crafted narrative supported by some keen observations and it becomes very compelling as you read. The result is a gripping thriller, with a denouement which is surprising and charming.
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Amanda Brown