Emily Critchley’s One Puzzling Afternoon is a heartbreaking book. While it’s a mystery, it also tells of Edie Green Havercraft’s dementia, and the reader watches it grow worse in the course of the book. It’s difficult to read at times.
In 2018, Edie “sees” Lucy Theddle. She doesn’t remember what secret Lucy had, but she does remember that she kept Lucy’s secret for sixty-seven years, and never told anyone. Now, she’s desperate to discover what happened to Lucy.
In 1951, Edie Green was a lonely fifteen-year-old. She lived with her widowed mother who embarrassed Edie by holding seances. It wasn’t any easier when her mother dated and then married Reggie Drake. He wanted Edie to drop out of school and work to earn her keep. Edie was never comfortable around Reggie.
When Lucy Theddle befriended her, Edie’s life changed. Lucy was the daughter of the mayor of Ludthorpe, a privileged girl. Suddenly, Lucy’s friends could no longer pick on Edie. Lucy met Edie and walked to school with her. Lucy has secrets, and Edie doesn’t approve of them. But, she’s desperate for a friend, so she keeps Lucy’s secrets. Then, one day Lucy disappears. The police search for her, and even question Edie. She can keep a secret, though.
Now, in 2018, when Edie claims she’s seen Lucy, just as she looked in 1951, Edie’s family brushes it off. Edie tends to get muddled. There are times she doesn’t remember where she lives, or doesn’t remember her granddaughter’s name. As Edie’s dementia gets worse, her determination to find Lucy grows. She thinks the clues to Lucy’s disappearance are within her, and, if she can find those answers, all her confusion might disappear.
While Edie does eventually uncover the truth about Lucy’s disappearance, it’s just one more tragedy. For me, as a reader, I found Edie’s dementia to be the true tragedy of the book. It’s not easy to watch her struggle. It’s not easy to watch her family cope with Edie’s memory loss and her occasional rages when she knows she doesn’t remember. There’s so much more than just One Puzzling Afternoon in this book.
Emily Critchley’s website is https://www.emilycritchley.com/
One Puzzling Afternoon by Emily Critchley. Sourcebooks Landmark, 2023. ISBN 9781728287164 (paperback), 368p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a galley through NetGalley to review for a journal.
We’re seeing more books that incorporate or depend on dementia in the plots. For me, it’s unbearable to read. It’s a tragedy that no one can guard against or recover from, and it makes me anxious as well as deeply afraid for people I know who are headed that way. Hard to enjoy a plot built around this catastrophe.
Sandra, You’re right. It’s a tragedy, and I know too many people who have suffered from it.
Speaking of dementia, I just read THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE by Richard Osman, with the sad end to that dementia story. Good book, as always.
An excellent book, wasn’t it, Jeff? I think Osman handled it beautifully.
I definitely want to read that book, also discovered that she has written more great books. Dementia will be more widespread as the Baby Boomers age.
You’re right, Carol. People didn’t live long enough before to suffer from it. Now, with modern medicine, we get old enough to suffer from it. Although, there’s also early-onset dementia. It’s jjust all sad.