In Memory of Us

A profound evocation of memory and post-Windrush life in Britain

by Jacqueline Roy

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Pub Date 20 Mar 2024 | Archive Date 14 Jan 2024

Simon and Schuster UK | Simon & Schuster UK

General Fiction (Adult)

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Description

What does it mean to remember?
Joined at birth, then pulled apart, Selina and Zora’s relationship is marked by a pattern of closeness and separation. Growing up in 50s’ and 60s’ London under the shadow of Enoch Powell, they are instinctively dependent on each other, and yet Zora yearns for her own identity. But in the eyes of the people around them, the twins are interchangeable.

They come as a pair.
They are Selzora.

Now in her seventies and living with the early stages of dementia, Selina is tracing shards of memory. She is intent on untangling the traumatic events of the past that changed the twins’ lives. Perhaps Lydia, who has reintroduced herself to Selina with sharp, cool charisma, will help her find answers. But even as Selina struggles to make sense of her memories, it’s all too clear that Lydia is hiding something.

In Memory of Us is a profound evocation of memory, and the strategies employed for illusion and survival in the wake of racism. It offers an often-overlooked insight into life as a Black Briton after the Windrush generation.

Praise for In Memory of Us:
‘A twisty tale of twins…pacily written’ The Observer

‘This reflective study of memory and illusion as a survival technique is fascinating. Offering insight into life as a Black Briton after the Windrush generation, this thoughtful novel entertains and educates' Platinum

‘Roy’s writing is powerful and gripping in this important and fascinating read' My Weekly

'In Memory of Us is a heartstring-tugging exploration of memory, grief and race in Britain. Roy's prose drips with poignancy and elegance; her characters come to life on the page and you have no choice but to surrender your heart to their journey' Elvin James Mensah, author of Small Joys

‘Jacqueline Roy’s poignant and deeply moving novel draws you into the unique world of living as an identical twin, and a mixed-race one in a deeply racist society at that…A deeply powerful read’ heat

‘A moving read’ Woman’s Own

Advance Praise

Praise for Jacqueline Roy & The Gosling Girl:

‘[The Gosling Girl] interrogates the context of a child's crime and simplistic notions of evil by society and the media. It fosters understanding & empathy and draws us deep inside the protagonist's psychology’ Bernardine Evaristo

‘This intriguing procedural is above all a portrait of two damaged women and a moving demonstration of how race and class have affected their lives' The Times and The Sunday Times Crime Club

'This is a beautifully written, insightful and thought-provoking novel. Michelle's story drew me in immediately, and while it's heartbreaking in places, it's uplifting in others. Jacqueline Roy writes with deep compassion and empathy, and I have a feeling this wonderfully compelling novel will stay with me for a long time' Susan Elliot Wright, author of All You Ever Wanted

'A thoughtful, slow-burn exploration of how damaged children damage, The Gosling Girl asks whether some children are born evil - and shows emphatically that an abusive childhood is to blame. I felt increasing sympathy for Michelle Cameron, in all her manifestations. At times, disturbing, poignant, and thought-provoking' Sarah Vaughan, author of Anatomy of a Scandal and Reputation

‘It was refreshing to read a thriller that wasn’t full of twists, though I kept waiting for them, as I’ve been conditioned to expect them. This well-plotted story follows Michelle, who’s recently been released from prison. Does someone who’s committed an awful crime deserve to start again?’ Prima

‘Written with compassion, and an exceptional sense of identity by Roy — born to a Jamaican father and a British mother — it is both striking and powerful’ Daily Mail

‘(a)…provocative tale of institutional racism, and how the marginalised fight back’ Stylist Magazine

‘A powerful look at institutionalised racism and the after-effects of a childhood crime' S Magazine

‘The Gosling Girl is one of the most moving thrillers I’ve read for some time' Observer

Praise for Jacqueline Roy & The Gosling Girl:

‘[The Gosling Girl] interrogates the context of a child's crime and simplistic notions of evil by society and the media. It fosters understanding &...