Please Don't Leave Me Here

This first novel is set in suburban Melbourne, and told in the first person by Brigitte – it is really her life story. 

Brigitte was knocked down by a car when she was a very young mother.  This has left her with considerable memory loss and slight physical disability.  She is married to a plain-clothes police officer and has two young children.

From the start it is apparent that she is a complete mess – a terrible mother and an unfaithful wife.  Her main interest is consumerism – the latest designer outfits, make-up, etc.,etc.  She is completely insecure and is vaguely aware that she did something terrible shortly before the accident. 

I am afraid I had no sympathy whatsoever because of her total inability to take any decisive steps in the right – or even wrong - direction.  The narration does switch from 2008 (which is the present) back to 1994 and the events leading up to the accident.  It could very loosely be described as a crime story, I suppose, in that some of the characters are definitely criminals and others police officers.

It is not badly written – Tania Chandler is a professional writer who is apparently already working on a sequel, which I have no intention of reading.  I suppose I am just an old fogey.