Memories Are Made of This
In 1954 Liverpool, England, young, vibrant Jeanette Walker lives with her father, several siblings, and a dictatorial aunt who rules the house like a prison. Jeanette’s life is much like that of other young women of her times; she works, has friends, and dreams of independence and true love. As the story begins to unfold, readers find Jeanette involved in two mysteries. First, she is determined to track down a handsome stranger who rescued her from a fight and then vanished. Secondly, she wants to discover what really happened to her mother, who disappeared during a bomb raid in 1941 and has been presumed dead all these years.
Successfully capturing the feel of the 1950s, this is a charming story. The romance and mystery are well balanced, and interesting plot twists keep it moving. What makes this story most enjoyable is the way Francis intertwines the stories of the whole Walker family into Jeanette’s. For example, readers get to find out about older sister Hester, a modern woman working for the police, entangled in two very different romances. Recommended.
