I rather liked this. You are never sure when you read a debut whether it will be any good – and this is very good.
It’s set in the UK – mainly in Devon with a touch of London and a bit of TV screen time abroad. It features 2 women in their 40’s who seem very different to each other but are instantly attracted when they meet.
Mattie is trying to relive her childhood holiday in Devon when she bumps into Nell who lives next door to the B&B she is staying in. They later come into contact with each other through work – only Mattie is a renowned journalist and Nell is the local Police Chief Inspector with no time at all for journalists. Needless to say that is only the beginning of their story.
As they get to know each other they encounter obstacles on the way (of course). These include unprocessed trauma and possible PTSD, fear, a lot of gardening and some funny moments.
This has required knowledge or research into trauma, gardening, Agatha Christie, Devon, fire, grief and Bath all of which has been incorporated into the story to make it interesting and plausible as well as highly readable.
This book is a very definite solid debut that is well worth taking the time to read.
Hopefully book number 2 is in the pipeline.