It was the day when everything stopped. At quarter past two on a hot afternoon in August, Anna's beautiful, headstrong elder sister Rose disappears. Twenty years later, Anna still doesn't know whether Rose is alive or dead. In her early thirties now, she sees her future unfolding - with sensible, serious Martin and a grown-up, steady job - and finds herself wondering if this is what she really wants. Unable to take control of her life while the mystery of her sister's disappearance remains unsolved, Anna begins to search for the truth: what did happen to Rose that summer's day? The stunning first adult novel from the distinguished Costa Award winner.
This is Linda Newberry's first adult novel and it is fantastic, I really hope she writes more. The book is written from two perspectives, both Anna and her mother, Sandra. It is cleverly written and gives the author oppurtunity to explore how the whole family are affected when their daughter/sister goes missing and they don't get any answers. However, it becomes clear that Sandra is hiding things from her family.
The story is one of a family, torn apart by grief and constantly waiting for answers as to what has happened to their missing family member. There are many times of sadness throughout the book but the reader is also lead in many different directions and it is not until the end of the book that these individual strands meet up and the real story is told. Each character is affected by Rose's disappearance and I felt myself becoming entwined in the story very quickly.
I am really looking forward to seeing what Linda Newberry writes next as this book is one of my favourites of the year so far.
Thank you to the publishers, Doubleday, for sending me the book to review.
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