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Elizabeth is Missing (figure 1), is a much vaunted and decorated debut novel from 29-year-old Emma Healey and was discussed at Gloucester's February Neurology book club.
In the prologue, Maud, the narrator-heroine, finds a broken compact mirror that she recognises in her friend's garden; but what does it mean and where is her dear friend Elizabeth?
Book cover of Elizabeth is Missing.
Maud has dementia (no specific diagnosis is given) and in the book we follow two parallel stories: Maud's detective difficulties as she tries to find out where her dear friend has vanished to; and the disappearance without trace of the glamorous Sukey, Maud's adored elder sister (and owner of the aforementioned mirror), in post-war London 70 years before. The story traces a repetitive and confusing journey through the mind and history of Maud. Contemporary events trigger memories of …
Footnotes
Contributors JW drafted the initial manuscript. CM edited, provided the picture and supplied the revisions.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.
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