Quarter Past Two On A Wednesday Afternoon By Linda Newberry

[amazon_link id=”0857522493″ target=”_blank” ][/amazon_link]’Quarter Past Two On A Wednesday Afternoon’ is Linda’s first adult novel but she has been writing Young Adult and children’s books for years.

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 story starts on the day that Anna’s older Rose disappears and was never found. Twenty years later, people have moved on and assume
that she is now dead as to them, she had no reason to disappear. But, for her family time has stood still.

This book is quite an intense and gripping story that made for intense reading as Anna begins her journey to find out what really happened to her older sister. Unhappy with her own life with her partner Martin, who does come across as quite a surly character, Anna comes to the conclusion that she will never be finally ready or happy to move on with her life until she finds out what happened to Rose. Convinced that Martin has no interest in her quest, she turns to an unlikely candidate for help, Martin’s ex-wife Ruth who has recently lost her mother and could do with a little bit of help in sorting out her mothers stuff. Anna moves in with Ruth and Martins sons and then begins in ernest her search for Rose.

The story is primarily seen through the eyes of Anna, but there are flashbacks back to that day when Rose first goes missing, which sets the story up and also gives you a feel for the absent character. Another interesting addition to the story is the inclusion of the girls mother growing up, her story of living in the swinging 60’s and the upset that she went through when her older brother committed suicide. All these elements have a contributing factor in the unexpected and quite genius twist at the end.

The book is quite a bleak one with a sad premise, all the characters are quite unhappy and at real no point would I have described the story as heartwarming. But I would say that it is extremely compelling and makes for dark and intriguing read. ‘Quarter Past Two On A Wednesday Afternoon’ is a fascinating story about family secrets and ghosts, a highly recommended book.

You can buy [amazon_link id=”0857522493″ target=”_blank” ]Quarter Past Two On A Wednesday Afternoon from Amazon [/amazon_link] and is available to buy from good bookshops.