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Lizzie Bartholomew has been on holiday in Morocco. The twenty-five year old unemployed social worker needed to get away after some unpleasant experiences in her life. The day before she is to return to Northumberland, on a bus to Marrakech, she meets Philip. She recognizes Mr. No-Last-Name Philip as a northerner like herself and of course she knows he is married. Although their affair is brief, she is attracted to Philip and entertains fantasies that she will see him when she is home in England. Unfortunately, that is not to be; several months after returning home, she receives a letter from Philip's lawyer. Philip has died of cancer but has left a strange bequest for her. Lizzie is asked to find Thomas Mariner, who she believes is Philip's illegitimate son. Lizzie's life continues its bizarre twists when she learns where Thomas lives and goes to his apartment, only to be the one to discover his body. Lizzie has seen a lot of trouble in her life, starting with her mother abandoning her; leaving her in a churchyard, where she was discovered by a dog and its walkers. Growing up in foster homes, she was strong enough to put herself through college and went into her profession hoping to make a difference to others like herself. Now she seems to be in the thick of trouble again. There is a second death. Philip's lawyer has lied to the police about her bequest. The author has crafted a beautifully presented psychological thriller. The most traumatic experience of Lizzie's life is unfolded to the reader bit by bit, as dreams and flashbacks. Only towards the end of the book do we know what really sent Lizzie off the deep end - if only for a while. Lizzie is an interesting character, engaging and likeable, even if she is a little nutty at times, you can't help rooting for her. I'm not certain if the city she lives in is real or imaginary but there is a fine sense of place in this book and the slightly shabby seaside where she resides comes across as a place that a person might want to visit. This book is a keeper and Ann Cleeves is a new find that I am delighted to have discovered.
Reviewed by Lorraine Gelly, April 2003
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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