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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?
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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