When I read the first few pages of "Remember Me" by Charity Norman, I was expecting a murder / mystery novel set in New Zealand. I got so very much more than I bargained for.
Emily Kirkland returns to New Zealand from London, to look after her father, Felix, a former GP, who is growing increasingly incapacitated due to Alzheimer's disease. A phone call from his concerned neighbour, Raewyn, instigates her journey : Emily's older (and geographically closer) twin siblings are too busy with their lives to oblige.
The trip brings back so many memories of Emily's childhood, and Raewyn's daughter, Dr Leah Parata, who disappeared twenty-five years previously whilst undertaking a walking / hiking trip to Biddulph's Bivouac to study snails. Emily was possibly the last person to see her alive.
The story revolves around Emily's worries about her father's health, and his muddled remarks about what happened 25 year ago. It is beautifully written, with wonderful descriptions of the New Zealand landscape. This is such a sad story - not just the disappearance of Leah but also Felix's deteriorating health - but, surprisingly, one I enjoyed very much. The last paragraph is heartbreaking.
This is the first book I have read by Charity Norman, but I will definitely buy her other books if they are as good as this one.
Emily Kirkland returns to New Zealand from London, to look after her father, Felix, a former GP, who is growing increasingly incapacitated due to Alzheimer's disease. A phone call from his concerned neighbour, Raewyn, instigates her journey : Emily's older (and geographically closer) twin siblings are too busy with their lives to oblige.
The trip brings back so many memories of Emily's childhood, and Raewyn's daughter, Dr Leah Parata, who disappeared twenty-five years previously whilst undertaking a walking / hiking trip to Biddulph's Bivouac to study snails. Emily was possibly the last person to see her alive.
The story revolves around Emily's worries about her father's health, and his muddled remarks about what happened 25 year ago. It is beautifully written, with wonderful descriptions of the New Zealand landscape. This is such a sad story - not just the disappearance of Leah but also Felix's deteriorating health - but, surprisingly, one I enjoyed very much. The last paragraph is heartbreaking.
This is the first book I have read by Charity Norman, but I will definitely buy her other books if they are as good as this one.