It is 1950 and a worn torn Britain is lacking in able bodied men. Answering this call the Windrush docks with a new labor force. Problem is, that many consider them the wrong color and are not willing to openly accept them. When a body of a toddler of mixed race is found in the river, these men of color are the first to be questioned.

Although the death of the child and the who done it gives it the air of mystery, this book is so much more. It is about prejudice and the effort it takes to be accepted, in some cases to never be accepted. It is also a love story between a mixed race girl and a young man from the Windrush. The plot is a long, unwinding of lives lived before and the lives to come. It is as much historical as it is suspense. It shows how easy it is to accuse without anything to back it up just because one is different. Easy to ruin lives with just an accusation.

Even though this is set in the past, this is something that happens everyday. And unfortunately, will be unchanged in the future. ( )

Lawrie answered the call from post-War Britain and landed with high hopes of a future. Missing his Caribbean home he falls in with a group of musicians, finds a job as a postman and starts courting a young mixed girl. However when he finds a child in the pond on Clapham Common his world starts falling apart. Already used to the basic racism he encounters on an everyday basis Lawrie finds his life spiralling out of control.
This is a terrific book and a very strong debut by Hare. Superficially a story about a crime, the setting among the Windrush generation is very cleverly observed. The roles of women in post-War Britain are skilfully depicted, the fact that on marriage they are expected to give up work, that divorce is scandalous and very difficult to obtain. Obviously the inherent racism of society is writ large and racist attacks feature yet are treated as almost commonplace. All of this shows a very deft touch from the writer as the love story between Lawrie and Evie is kept central and the (rather melodramatic) plot winds around this. ( )

3.5 stars ( )