When Mabel Beaumont’s husband of 62 years, Arthur, dies suddenly – aged 89 – she finds a note with a “Find D” on it. She thinks it means Find Dot. Dot was Mabel’s best friend 60+ years ago, and the girl who was going to marry her brother Bill. However, Bill died very unexpectedly aged 25 and shortly after, Dot left town, never to be seen again.
Shortly after Arthur’s death, a woman shows up on Mabel’s doorstep. Julie was hired by Arthur to be Mabel’s carer after his death. Initially Mabel is reluctant to let Julie into her life, but she does mention she wants to look for Dot to her. Along with Julie, two other women appear in Mabel’s life, the beautiful and elegant 70-ish year old American Patty, or Patricia as Mabel insists on calling her, and a young mother called Kirsty. Kirsty starts walking Arthur’s dog Olly. The fourth person to enter Mabel’s life is teenager Erin, who has a strenuous relationship with her family because she is gay.
These four women help Mabel on her quest to find Dot. Mabel in turn tries to help all these women with their problems, which sometimes don’t pan out.
Who knew a book about an octogenarian would be so engrossing? Mabel is a lovely person and I was hoping she would find Dot again. Wonderful read! I highly recommend it.
Read for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2024.
Prompt 43: About finding identity.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
