Author and journalist Nicci Gerrard normally writes excellent thrillers, under the nom-de-plume Nicci French, in collaboration with Sean French. "things we knew were true" (sic) is her first solo novel.
It's the tale of an ordinary family - father Vic, and mother Louise and their teenage daughters Jude, Stella and Edie. Outwardly, they seem like a normal happy family, until Vic inexplicably vanishes one day and his body is later found in a river. It is evident that Vic committed suicide and, as the book progresses, it becomes apparent that all three girls blame themselves for his death.
On the death of their mother, the three guilt-ridden sisters, now adults with separate lives and problems of their own, meet to sort out her affairs. Only then are things fully discussed between them and, as a result, many family skeletons are released from their closets.
This is a gentle, candid family story in which the sisters struggle to make sense of past, present and future and to untangle facts behind the unexpected death of their father, to try and discover why? The family dynamics are deftly and expertly handled by Gerrard, creating an intriguing narrative of growing up and growing older. It's a poignant look into family life from teenage to middle age, and a tantalising account of love and life which shows that thngs can sometimes go so cruelly wrong in a heartbeat.
At just over 300 pages long, I found it ideal beach reading matter - not so deep and taxing as to require prolonged concentration but more than sufficiently entertaining to enhance a holiday.
Publisher: Michael Joseph
ISBN: 071814631X
Price: £9.99 p/b
Date Reviewed: July 2003
My Rating: 3.5/5
