How strange it was for me to be reminded of the long hot Summer of 1976 by reading this wonderful book in the long hot summer of 2026!
Edie and Joe have been married for 12 years when one day he does not come home from work- Edie waits for him all evening as she has some important news to impart . Eventually, fearing the worst, she reports him as missing but no one knows where he is and the police can find no trace.
However, hidden in his wedding jacket, Edie discovers a clue, perhaps to where he has gone and sets off on a quest across Europe, following the signs that she believes he has left for her. Facing danger at every turn, Edie will not give up on Joe as she still loves him. Occasionally there are flashbacks to her life with her husband prior to his disappearance but nothing to explain why he has left.
I’ve read a lot of Mandy Robotham’s books which are mainly historical and all with believable and empathetic characters
I loved the setting and cultural references to 1976 when I was a teenager. The European journey Edie undertakes is a bit of a “Race Around the World” as she moves from country to country trying to locate her errant husband.
This book is difficult to categorise, part romance, part historical and part adventure, there is something for everyone in it.
It was a novel I really enjoyed and will be recommending to friends and family.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy..