Mother and Child

Whilst this is - as always - an interesting tale from Annie Murray, there is so much more to this book! Ian and Jo aren't faring well as a couple since the sudden death of their only son; they have moved home, nearer to Ian's mom whose health isn't at it's best. Having given up her job, Jo realises she is lonely - more so with the growing distance between her and her husband. When she sees a magazine picture of a young boy who strongly resembles her son and reads all about the Bhopal disaster in India which impacted on his life - and that of many others - she can't shake it off. As she begins to develop a small group of friends, the desire to do something to help won't go away - so what is she going to do about it? On it's own, this is a stunning story. Primarily, it is about a couple struggling on through the loss of a much loved son. In addition, the author is raising money from it to help those still affected - 30-plus years later - by this environmental disaster. It is an absolutely riveting read, thought-provoking in the extreme, but written in an entertaining manner. With an amazing spread of characters, each one is beautifully developed with their own back-story. There is so much to be taken from this novel, layer by layer, and it's really up to the reader how far they invest in the back-tale. Either way, it's an eye-opener, written by a gifted author who has cleverly constructed a superb story which is so appealing! I know this is one which is going to stay with me. No less than a full five stars will do!