I rather liked this. It is reminiscent of Elizabeth is Missing, in that an elderly woman with dementia tries to solve a mystery from the past. The characters were very sympathetically drawn and realistic. There is a lot of humour and also pathos. The care home set-up is not quite how it really works!! (I hope). I got a little lost after Whitby - I think I was possibly reading too fast and missed some crucial bits, as I had to re-read some of it to clarify what had or had not actually happened. There are a couple of twists, and a nice gentle coincidence towards the end. I had read Goats and Sheep previously and liked it. This is just as quirky and makes a rather refreshing change from the formulaic run of the mill stuff that is out there.

Another great book from Joanna, she seems to be able to make you feel like you’ve known the characters all your life. A very well thought out book!

I enjoyed "goats and sheep" the author's first novel and absolutely loved this one! The characters were so well written it felt at times the story got in their way and I just wanted to read about their present lives. I was particularly pleased they all went on a trip to Whitby as it is one of my favourite places and great to see it so lovingly described.
I felt that the author managed to be warm, witty and wise with some really beautiful writing. I will definitely be recommending it

Elsie is Florence’s best friend in the sheltered housing complex where we also encounter other eccentric residents and some unforgettable characters such as General Jack, Handy Simon, Fitness Pete, and Not Cheryl, the alternative hairdresser.
(We are told two of the things about Elsie early on in this novel, but the third is not revealed till the end, so don't be tempted to fast forward!)
When some of Florence's possessions mysteriously move or go walkabout, coinciding with the arrival of a suspicious newcomer, Florence and her allies become involved in detection and espionage to solve a serious crime mystery from Florence’s past.
Although Florence is a somewhat unreliable narrator, she is beguilingly entertaining, with her idiosyncratic turns of phrase, and her perceptive sayings about old age are so quotable, it is hard to choose a few, but here is a sample of her observations:

'There has to be a reason though, doesn't there … or have I spent the last 84 years just sitting in the audience?'
And -
'… the only one who would know if my mind had wandered away and left me to my own devices.'

Joanna Cannon’s story telling and characters are obviously influenced, as she admits, by the writings of Alan Bennet (especially the monologues) but there are also traces of Victoria Wood and Deric Longden in her style.
I greatly enjoyed this novel, which I actually prefer to her first (The Trouble With Sheep and Goats) and I found her poignant portrayal of a woman with onset of dementia to be completely inspired in its authenticity.

A wonderfully compelling read beautifully written and very sympathetically told about life in an old peoples home with dealing with dementia and past life. The characters are very easily identified with and slightly whimsical but obviously closely observed from real life. The main character, Florence, has a fall and whilst she waits to be found the story goes through many twists and turns with her remembering and piecing together her, sometimes, forgotten past life. There are many humourous passages giving an insight into seemingly uneventful life of the elderly in a care home. There are many twists and turns on the way and eventually every just slots into place including Flo's constant friend from childhood, Elsie. A thoroughly enjoyable read which makes me want to seek out this author's previous novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The prose is excellent and so descriptive, with many witty twists. The author is obviously an excellent observer and describes characters that we've all met along the way, so that it feels personal.

I laughed out loud at Florence's description of being the owner of large feet (taking size 8s myself!) and have taken her attitude on board.

The book re-raised many questions in my mind about how we care (or not) for our elder generations, whether or not they have dementia. The relationships between the various characters - now and in the past - were very well described, and in some cases, very moving.

All in all, an excellent read. I will seek out more by this author (who hails from my neck of the woods it seems).

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an advance copy in return for my honest review.

Easily readable and carefully plotted I found this an exceptional novel and would highly recommend it. Each character has meaning and relevance to the storyline wth clever twists and turns. There is some sadness about illness and dealing with age and care but all dealt with empathetically. The author intertwines the lives of all the characters with insight and skill.

Lying on the floor in her flat waiting for help Flo, the central character, keeps the plot moving along with pace and wit. Sensitively addressing the issues of Alzheimer's, loneliness and growing old the story focuses on Flo's life and some situations she struggles to face up to when a man from the past arrives at the sheltered accommodation.

As the story moves between the present day, where Flo is 84, and her teenage years, the reader meets Elsie who has always been her best friend. A companion, Jack, who also lives in the same accommodation helps with a variety of adventures in the hope of finding the truth about what really happened all of those years ago at the local dance which Elsie and Flo attended.

Nothing is as it seems.