I always enjoy books by Laura Wilson and especially her Stratton series. This book is a stand alone.

The story is told from the point of view of the three main characters. Gerald is a loner and has issues. In his past the reader learns about his childhood during the war and about his sisters death. Tilly is Gerald's aunt and she reflects on her time during the war and the time she spent with the family. Jo works with Gerald and gets very worried when Gerald takes an interest in her daughter.

I really enjoyed this book. What I loved was the different voices of the characters. The narrative is very down to earth and chatty. I felt like I was sitting down at the kitchen table with a cuppa listening to them tell their tale.

The story was good and I was drawn right in. I did think that Jo's daughter disappeared late in the book so then the ending became a bit rushed. This however did not distract from the book.

I cant recommend Laura Wilson enough and I liked this book very much. ( )

England, 1944: In a time of unparalleled fear, youngsters everywhere sought sanctuary in the magical books of author M. M. Haldane. No danger was ever too great to prevent her hero - Tom Tyler, Boy Detective - from returning safely home for tea. Inside such an idyllic storybook world, the danger was always overcome and good always vanquished evil.

Playing in the woods of a quiet Suffolk village one day, fourteen-year-old Gerald Haxton - the disturbed and unpopular son of the famous children's author - discovers the body of his elder sister Vera buried in a shallow grave. She had been beaten to death with a wooden stake and her boyfriend, a young GI, is hanged for the crime. The discovery of Vera's body is so horrifying for Gerald, that his innocence is lost forever...

England, 1995: As a new generation prepares to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of VE Day, Gerald, who still remains a loner, is terrorized by his memories. Gerald is nearing retirement, desperately lonely and living something of a hermit's life. Obsessed with routine, he still talks to his dead twin brother, Jack. Surrounded by the nostalgic artifacts at the television prop-hire business where he works, he is constantly reminded of the past, and with it, his sister Vera's death.

Gerald eventually finds solace in following twelve-year-old Mel, the daughter of his colleague, home from school every day. To protect her, he says. But when Mel - who bears a striking resemblance to Vera - goes missing one day, all eyes turn accusingly to Gerald.

I really enjoyed reading this book. This was the second book by Laura Wilson that I've read, but it is actually the third book that she has written. I felt so sorry for Gerald - in my opinion, Gerald received rather a raw deal. He was targeted because he was different, but in my opinion, Gerald couldn't or wouldn't have harmed a fly. I give My Best Friend by Laura Wilson an A! ( )

Another good thriller from Laura Wilson. This story takes place during WWII and the present (well the 1990's) when England is preparing for the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of VE day. For Gerald Haxton, a desperately lonely man, it is a sinister reminder of a family tragedy, the murder of his beloved 16 year sister in the woods near their home in 1944. Gerald notices a 12 year old girl in his neighbourhood who bears a striking resemblance to his sister and begins to follow her. When the girl disappears, Gerald finds himself the chief suspect. ( )

Wilson skriver en kriminalroman med en egentligen ganska banal intrig. Men hon varierar perspektiven skickligt, och lyckas få med en inte alldeles självklar parallellhistoria. Men jag gillar båda "berättelserna".

Jag vill dock kritisera lite också. Dialogen känns platt och lite hurtig. Karaktärernas repliker har inget liv. Det är synd.