This story goes back and forth in time, following Daisy and her husband, a policeman. When they move from a village posting to the busy centre of Brighton, a lot changes in both of their lives. We see them in the 1950s and the following decades, then swapping to the late 90s when we follow their children and grandson, and how a face from the past answers a lot of questions about what happened to Daisy.

I think I actually preferred Daisy's story, and in a way wished that we stayed purely with her and her husband as their relationship changed. Though I did like Lucas, the deaf teenage grandson, and listening to his storyline, how he gets on at school being hearing impaired, and the story he has to tell us about Daisy his grandmother, the love he had for her and how he was impacted by her death. The other characters I wasn't particularly invested in, and it was slightly confusing with all the jumping around the timelines. I'd still recommend it though.

Beautifully written the characters come alive.It is an emotional moving read a story of family death loss.This is a story that keeps you turning the pages completely involved.I will be recommending this book to anyone who loves good literature.#netgalley #johnmurraybooks,

This novel exquisitely portrays the before, the now and the afterwards in an emotional telling of a family story. The characters take their time to show their full depth and, along the way, they worm their way under your skin. Beautiful writing and tender exposition. A lovely read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this review copy.

This is the saga of the Seacombe family. In the 1950s Daisy is learning the trials of being a police officer's wife - the secrecy, the boys' club, the loneliness - and takes comfort in the world of cinema and her children. In 1998 Mike and Linda (and Linda's deaf son Lucas) are still mourning Daisy's death a decade before. While relearning sign language Lucas begins to unlock memories of his grandmother and what happened to her.

This book has a melancholy air throughout, but that almost adds to its beauty. I saw every scene with a wistful gaze, which in Brighton and the South Downs made it feel truly stunning at times. I thought that the mystery of Daisy's death had been solved too early, but there was so much more to unravel, both about how she died and the profound effect it had on the whole story. Daisy's life was fascinating and so well developed that it felt stifling to read about the position in which she became trapped through her husband. But what a character; she shows fierce independence and determination at a time when women had far fewer options than we do today.

I loved Mike and Linda, but really fell for Mike's unlikely friendship with a stranger that turns his outlook around and helps him begin to move on. But the real triumph in this book, for me, was Lucas. There were so many subtle touches that bring home the everyday difficulties of navigating mainstream secondary school as a deaf child. The way a teacher turning their head could make him miss half the lesson plan, or how words just disappear when lipreading. As Lucas remembers how to sign with his support worker Cassie (another beautifully sad plot thread, there were so many lovely touches), his enclosed world and outlook begin to open up in ways he'd long forgotten.

I did find at times that the story occasionally jumped around in a confusing way, and I'd have to quickly adjust who I thought I was reading about or what event was being portrayed. But this wasn't always detrimental to the plot as it added to the ethereal, melancholy feel. It's a powerful and thoughtful read, filled with nostalgia for cinema and seaside towns, and interlaced with a fascinating in-depth family history.

Really good read. Would recommend to friends and family. I could sympathise with characters (important for any fiction novel!) and looked forward to picking it up and reading the next few chapters! Interesting plot line and a good ending. Will look out for more novels by the author. Thank you.

I really enjoyed this book.
It's full of cinema and film references,which charmed me slightly.
Mostly though,it's the people... three generations of the same family.
Opening with what seems to be loves young dream in the country police house,and continuing on with children and grandchild.
These seemed like people you might know.. all fighting their own battles with various things.
There's a few emotional punches along the way.

Good stuff.