This is a debut novel and so I did not know what to expect and took a chance as this was a story about a child who goes missing and the repercussions of the lives of her small family.
To start with I was rather confused as the narrative is in the first person and it was difficult to understand who was telling the story: The child or the mother. But of course with a little patience and concentration it was obvious. The language of both mother and daughter is totally different and this is indicates how clever the writer is in using two such different voices.
The separation happens quite early in the book but gives us long enough to establish the close relationship between mother and daughter and so to be able to share the anguish at their separation.
Carmel is eight years old, she lives with her mother Beth. Beth is struggling with life as a single mother but wants to do her very best for Carmel. Carmel is a bright and questioning young child, she has an awareness that makes her appear for more mature than her years and often gets frustrated with her mother for not allowing her the freedom she consider necessary. Of course no eight year old girl can understand the dangers out there, so when a man who tells her he is her grandfather takes her away she is not wise enough to question his identity.
The separation last far longer than I expected and Carmel’s new family becomes intrinsic to the story giving it a more rounded narrative and easing the pain of only sharing the loss of mother and daughter.
It is frightening to follow the in the ease in which mother Beth and Carmel lose each other but neither lose faith or hope, and consequently nor did I, despite not expecting a happy conclusion.
I had to read this book: I could not leave it for another day. I was reading almost all night to get to the end, so beware this will drag you in. Give yourself chunks of time to read it; it cannot be dipped in or out of, but devoured in one go if possible.
The book is published by Faber and Faber on 26th February 2015 and is £12.99 in hardback
or from Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Girl-Coat-Kate-Hamer/dp/0571313248
