One Puzzling Afternoon is a character-driven mystery that will have you hooked from the very first page. Written by Greek-English writer Emily Critchley, this novel has a pulsating flow that will keep readers on tenterhooks. The story revolves around Edie Green and alternates between her childhood in 1951 and the present day, in 2018, when she is an ageing pensioner who is battling the early stages of dementia.
This mystery has a lot of heart and explores a strange narrative. Namely, we are looking at Edie's childhood through the eyes of a 15-year-old and then skipping to a much older woman who struggles with dementia and forgets a lot of things in everyday life. The dual timelines are masterfully written and give us insight into how Edie ticks, but she is not the focal point of this great mystery. She is the secret keeper, and as the story unravels, readers will hardly be able to put this thriller down as Edie races against the clock to unravel the big mystery.
The story begins in 1951 when Edie Green is a lonely 15-year-old who wants to make friends and look for great adventures. She befriends Lucy Theddle, a pretty and popular girl who gives Edie a new lease of life. Lucy then tells Edie a dark secret, one that she must never reveal, and then Lucy goes missing.
Skip to 2018, and Edie is 84 years old and still living in the town she grew up in. A lot has changed, and Edie is now suffering from dementia. And she finds it difficult to remember events from the past and from her everyday life. But then she apparently sees Lucy again, but she does not know if its just a figment of her imagination, brought on by her condition.
This sets the scene for a quick-paced thriller as Edie races against time to find out what happened to her friend and battle the debilitating effects of dementia. It is a truly heartfelt story, with plenty of drama to add to the mystery and tantalizing characters.
The dual narration is original and gives readers insights into Edie's condition. It not only dictates the pace of the thriller but also enhances the underlying mystery, making it difficult for readers to determine whether Edie is confusing what has actually happened, or whether she has uncovered truths.
Fans of classic mysteries will revel in this captivating novel, and it can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. The story touches on some essential themes such as family, growing old, and drawing a bridge from Edie's past to the modern day. It is unlike any other novel in its genre, shedding light on how dementia sufferers struggle to perceive the world and how Edie strives to find out what happened to her childhood friend.
