July, 1976. One morning Robert Riordan tells his wife, Gretta, that he is going around the corner to buy a newspaper.

He doesn't return.

Drawn back home to London to help solve the mystery, Gretta's grown-up children fit awkwardly into their childhood roles, and tensions run high. Each is at a turning point in his or her life. The eldest, Michael Francis, is increasingly estranged from his wife by parenthood and his guilt over a brief affair. Monica's performance as a perfect stepmother is convincing no one; and Aoife, the black sheep of the family, is finding that even in New York she can't hide from the secret that has set her apart since childhood.

As I remember the long hot summer of '76, with it's swarms of ladybirds & standpipes I was looking forward to a bit of reminiscing but while the era was nicely portrayed I'd have liked a bit of pop/social culture that I could relate to. But that said, it didn't affect my enjoyment of the story, though I did find the characters a mite irritating with their lack of communication causing such great rifts - especially between Aoife & Monica - & their secret keeping. I wasn't overly convinced by Aoife's inability to read either (yes, I appreciate that people do get away with it for years) & consequently I guess that's why I didn't really feel it was a necessary requirement for the tale.

Despite those comments I did enjoy the tale :o)

Added to Kev's Random Bookbox.

Taken out of Kev's Random Bookbox.