That is Felix Kendall, accountant, who
disappears before the police can arrest him for his money-laundering part in a
wider criminal network. All well and
good for him to escape, but what about the family he leaves behind?
Wife Kate and the two children face a future
at first uncertain and then all too real as their creature comforts - big
house, private schools, the leisure to study for an art history degree - are
peeled away. Kate must take over the
role as breadwinner and family rock and the kids have to adapt; and what is
worse in their world, becoming part of a single parent family or having a dad
labelled as a criminal?
It is an interesting premise, and Morrall
unfolds the narrative from all angles with an understanding and empathy that
reflects the daily slog each must make against a misfortune whether or not of
their making. Kate, suffering guilt by
association, searches her past for missed clues; similarly the holed-up Felix
examines his history for where it all went wrong. The children have minor
dramas, but to no obvious purpose.
In truth not much happens for much of the
book; what dramatic tension there is revolves around whether Felix will
resurface or not, and if he does how will the family react? There is a flurry of action just before the
end, and a resolution of sorts for those still reading.
No comments:
Post a Comment