The Long, Long Afternoon, Inga Vesper (Book Review)

Every now and again, a book comes along that grabs you and pulls you in right from the get-go. The long, long afternoon certainly did that for me. This is a great read and a book I've already bought for others.

We find ourselves in 1950s Suburbia in a time when women stayed home and tended to the things women tended to and waited for their husbands to return from work. However, all is not well in one household, and we gradually get to unravel Joyce's story when one day she disappears from this so-called perfect place.

Mick, the detective on the case, enlists the help of Ruby to try and find out what's happened to Joyce. Ruby is a marvellous character and an unlikely detective in these times. A black woman from an area of poverty, she cleans the houses of these women and, as a result, has a more intimate knowledge of what's really going on.

I really enjoyed what followed as Ruby gets closer and closer to the truth, and we find out what's really been going on behind the beautifully hung drapes of these homes. In so doing, Ruby starts to discover her own identity and what's important to her.

This book felt reminiscent of The Help in some ways, and it highlights lots of inequalities prevalent at the time, yet it left me feeling upbeat and optimistic.

This one is a definite 5 stars and a book I'd happily recommend to others.