A Nearly Normal Family by M T Edvardsson
Published by PanMacMillan
Publication Date: 2nd April 2020 (Paperback)
Psychological Thriller
Book Description:
Your 18 year old daughter goes out. You don't know where, but she says she will be back by 11pm.
11pm comes but she isn't. You text her, but no reply. Then, 2am, the front door opens and you hear her go into her bedroom.
She's home. You check she's OK. 'Yes', and you turn over.
The next morning, your daughter is arrested for murder. And all you can think is, where was she last night? Why was she late? And what will you say when the police ask you where she was...
My Thoughts:
I picked up a copy of this book in my local Tesco during the weekly grocery shop. The blurb grabbed me straightaway, but other than that I didn't know anything about the author, his style or any of his previous work.
I have to admit that I struggled with the first part of this book, told from the father's point of view. Adam is a pastor in the Church of Sweden, and we hear a lot about how close he and his daughter have always been. Mum is a lawyer and has taken more of a back seat in Stella's upbringing, with Adam being the primary parent while Ulrika was the breadwinner. His faith and morals are tested beyond their limit when Stella is apprehended by the police on suspicion of the murder of local man Christopher Olsen.
The second part of the book I found began to flow much better, and is told by daughter Stella. We find out how headstrong she is, what a close yet slightly toxic relationship she has with best friend Amina. The chapters are short and snappy and every one reveals a little bit more either about Stella herself or the events running up to the night Olsen was killed. Despite all the information which is drip fed to us in both of these parts of the book the reader is still unsure whether Stella is guilty of the murder. Olsen's ex girlfriend is presented as a potential witness, but there is also a hint that she may have been more involved than just as an onlooker.
The final part of the book is told from mum Ulrika's point of view. This is where this book really came into its own. Even with all her legal experience, she struggles when faced with being on the other side of the system. People who she has previously worked alongside are now judging her family and deciding on her daughter's fate. I loved this part of the book as you gradually see how the storyline has been very carefully plotted all the way through. The conclusion certainly shocked me and I was so pleased I was patient with this book early on as it's one of those ones which works so well overall. I don't know whether the fact that the book was originally written in Swedish and translated into English has any bearing on the flow of the writing - I'm not a big reader of translated books, so it's possible that this is a 'thing'.
My advice with this one is to stick with it and you won't be disappointed.
About the Author:
M. T. Edvardsson is a writer and teacher from Trelleborg, Sweden. The author of three previous novels and two books for young readers. Edvardsson lives in Löddeköpinge, Sweden.
Social Media:
Twitter: @Mattiasedvard
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mattiasedvardssonforfattare/
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