A round-up of mysteries/thriller about children and identity: reviewed by Kate Hutchinson

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I suppose it is natural to place the care of children at the heart of a thriller as, unless you are a particularly hard-hearted reader, it’s a good way to get you, the reader, to care quickly about the characters. Here are three books considering the relationship between mother and child.

 

 

My Name is Anna by Lizzy Barber

 

In Florida, Anna is eighteen and just starting to rebel against her extremely strict Mamma, who is obsessed by cleanliness and purity and God. She has never been allowed to visit Florida’s biggest theme park so why, when she takes a forbidden trip there, does it seems familiar?

 

In London, Rosie was just a baby when her older sister was stolen on holiday. Fifteen years later her parents are still trying to find their child, whilst Rosie has to deal with the being an object of curiosity and the toll the search has taken on her parents marriage. She decides to uncover the truth herself…

 

Okay, so you don’t get any prizes for working out the connection here! But this is a fast paced and interesting exploration of the lives of two teenagers in very different circumstances, alternate chapters being each girl’s story, and written in the first person present, giving that real feeling of the spontaneity of teenagers. Both girls are struggling with their identity as they grow towards adulthood and the pain and confusion of being in the shadow of events that happened before you can remember is keenly felt.

 

A gripping read and, if the ending feels a little contrived, still thoroughly enjoyable.

 

Century/Penguin Random House hb £12.99

 

The Boy at the Door by Alex Dahl

 

Here is the book for the lovers of Scandi drama.

 

In an idyllic small Norwegian town, Cecilia seems like the perfect wife and mother, just waiting to pick up her girls from swimming before getting to home to a cool glass of wine in her elegant living room. But when she reluctantly agrees to do a simple favour and drop a small boy home, her life is turned upside down and her past threatens her well-contrived life.

 

Cecilia is a great character. A true anti-heroine who has everything controlled from her decor, to her children, to how much affection she permits herself to show her husband. She is really quite unlikeable but her actions throw her life into confusion and we start to see different sides to her. The narrative switches between Cecilia, Tobias the little boy, and the historical diaries of Annika a drug addict. Cecilia is the strongest voice, the others feel like a device to help us as readers uncover the plot but they are the weakest part of the book, which is otherwise absolutely gripping, unsettling and unpredictable as we find out exactly what lies beneath Cecilia’s perfect life.

HeadofZeus pb  £7.99

 

 

 

Gone By Midnight by Candice Fox

 

In tropical Queensland, four young boys are left alone in a hotel room whilst their holidaying parents dine downstairs. But when a parent checks on them at midnight, one of the boys has disappeared. The boys swear they didn’t leave the room, the CCTV shows no sign of him. There is no trace of the boy or his body.

The boy’s mother calls in detective Ted Conkaffey and his unconventional boss Amanda to help the search, much to the dismay of the local police chief. But both Ted and Amanda have histories of their own that might impede the investigation.

 

This is the third outing for Ted Conkaffey and this has all the hallmarks of a great easy-to-read thriller. A detective with a troubled past, an eccentric sidekick, a difficult relationship with the local police, and a great mystery at the centre. Lots of fun with twists and turns, problems solved as soon as they arrive by helpful friends and sometimes enemies. All in all implausible but well written in a fast paced style. A great one for a holiday. Just keep an eye on the kids….

 

Century/Penguin Random House hb £12.99

 

 

 

 

Mr Doubler Begins Again by Seni Glaister Review by Annie Clarke

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Oh I do like these quirky uplifting ‘up-lit’ novels. They put me in mind of the film, based on the book by Deborah Moggach The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, with an aching depth cloaked in charm, a novel in which you care enormously about the characters; characters who seem much as we are at certain times; slightly flawed, slightly lost.

Potato farmer, dear Mr Doubler, cares little for quantity, for he is an EXPERT and therefore quality is his goal, and boo, who cares that he is the second most successful potato farmer in the county? But is quality enough to fill a life?

Mr Doubler, bless him, is a widower. His wife cultivated friends, he his potatoes. So when his wife ‘passes on’ so too do her friends and for some while Mr Doubler is happy with his life which functions pretty well, courtesy of his housekeeper Mrs Millward. But lordy loo, what happens when Mrs Millward is no longer his mainstay, the daily visitor opening the door into his life?

Yes, indeed, what will happen to Mr Doubler? Everyone needs friends, a community, will he find these? In fact, is he up to attracting friendship or will it have to be thrust upon him?

Beautifully written, at a fabulous pace, and with delicate rhythm the author, Seni Glaister graces the pages with her warmth and liking for the world she has created. The scenes are well set, and vivid.

I loved it. You will too. It is a book for January, when there is a hint of spring in the lengthening days, and the bulbs which have the temerity to challenge the cold and dark and break the surface. Oh, yes, Mr Doubler, thrust your way into the light too.

Congratulations, fabulous book. And surely a film?

Mr Doubler Begins Again by Seni Glaister pub HQ HB £12.99 ebook £9.99 Audio £12.99

Annie Clarke’s first novel Girls on the Home Front will be published in May 2019 by Arrow.

STOP EVERYTHING: A cheese wheel extravaganza is coming to London

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That’s right, London locals can reap the benefits of their postcodes to indulge in a pasta, cheese wheeling night of Italian luxury.

Pasta Remoli, a firm favourite of Frost mag, recently opened its Ealing Broadway spot and is celebrating by hosting three, yes three, exclusive evenings for locals.

It’s no ordinary evening though, each night, chef and founder Simone Remoli will present guests with deliciously moreish Maccheroncini Carbonara served hot straight out of a, wait for it, GIANT PARMESAN WHEEL. Just give us a moment to compose ourselves.

For £25, guests will enjoy a welcome drink, Italian starters including Italian salumi and cheese, crispy and velvety arancini, creamy burrata cheese, mixed bruschetta, bread and focaccia before the main event… the giant Parmesan wheel packed with Maccheroncini Carbonara.

 

If that’s not enough for your Italian food – appreciating selves, dessert is also included in the price. Swoon.

 

To make a booking, email ealingbroadway@pastaremoli.co.uk

The Food Medic: How to reduce free sugars in the diet

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January leaves us all wanting to eat healthier as the decadence of Christmas tends to be hanging around. Mostly in weigh gain. The Food Medic is here to tell you how to reduce free sugars in your diet and be healthier.

You might be thinking, hey, why all the fuss about reducing sugars? First things first, sugar is not poisonous or toxic, nor is it uniquely to blame for obesity or poor health. However, we could generally do with consuming less “free” sugars. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), a committee of independent experts that advises the Government on nutrition issues, recommends that the average intake of FREE sugars should not exceed 5% of total dietary energy intake, as they can contribute to excess calories in our diet and tooth decay. But what are free sugars and how might we limit our intake?

 

Free sugars includes sugars added to food and drinks by the manufacturer, cook or consumer, but also includes ‘natural sugars’ found in honey, syrups and juices. These are sugars we generally need to eat less of as they can contribute to excess calories in our diet and tooth decay. Sugars found in fruit and vegetables, grains and cereals, or lactose naturally present in milk and dairy products are not included in this.

 

How can I cut down my consumption of free sugars?

 

Most of the free sugars we consume come from sugars that we add to food and drink, including fizzy drinks and juices, jams and condiments, biscuits, pastries and cakes. There’s no need to totally avoid these foods completely, but you can reduce the amount of free sugars in your diet by basing your meals on fibre-rich, carbohydrates such as brown rice and sweet potatoes, protein-rich beans and pulses, essential fatty acids from oily fish and flaxseed, and a variety of colourful fruit and vegetables, such as berries and leafy greens.

 

Here are some helpful suggestions:

 

Make your own chia jam – Although there is nothing quite like old fashioned jam, it does contain quite a lot of added sugar, which isn’t great for our teeth or health if we eat too much of it. Chia seed jam is a quick, low-sugar alternative to regular jam. All you need is a punnet of berries and a tablespoon of chia seeds –  You can whip this up in 5 minutes and have an incredible, homemade jam in your fridge for up to 2 weeks!

Simply stew in a pot with 2 tablespoons of water over a medium heat. Cook until the fruit breaks down and becomes syrupy, 5 to 10 minutes. Mash the berries with the back of a wooden spoon and stir in the chia seeds. Cook for another 2-3 minutes then remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes, until thickened. If you’d like a thicker consistency, especially with very juicy fruits, stir in more chia seeds 1 teaspoon at a time. Once the jam has cooled to room temperature, transfer it to a jar.

 

Many breakfast cereals are quite high in sugar, including those marketed to be “healthier” options. One way to reduce your sugar intake at breakfast time is to swap to lower-sugar cereals such as plain porridge oats. You can make it just as, if not more, satisfying and delicious by jazzing it up with some warm berries, cinnamon and chopped nuts.

 

Smart snacking – despite their healthy image, many cereal bars and “energy” balls are often pretty high in sugar and fat. Instead of trying to navigate the snack aisle, plan ahead and make your own snacks to take with you – it’s also a great way to save money. How about your own DIY trail mix made with a small handful of chopped nuts, fresh berries, and a square or two of dark chocolate roughly chopped?

 

A large proportion of the added sugar in our diets comes from sugar sweetened beverages such as fizzy drinks and juices. If swapping to water isn’t something you feel particularly excited about, you could try flavoring it with a herbal tea bag, a handful of chopped strawberries or cucumber, or simply just mint.

 

Surprisingly for some, there are also some sugar added to savoury foods – what some people call “hidden sugars” – such as in; condiments, sauces, and ready meals. This is usually to improve taste and texture but it can mean you’re consuming some extra sugar. By making your own sauces at home, and cooking from scratch as much as possible, you are likely to reduce the amount of added sugar in your meals.

 

 

 

Beat the January Blues With Top Tips From Inhere Meditation Concept

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As we enter day 17 of dry January, our New Year’s resolutions are starting to wobble and still 13 days until payday, it’s no wonder that by day 21, we are all but ready to give up. Monday 21st January is officially named Blue Monday and has been recognised as one of the most depressing days of the year.

However, there are ways to combat this and co-founders of Inhere (London’s most innovative meditation concept), Adiba Osmani and Ghazal Abrishamchi, have identified a number of foods to alleviate depression and stress as well as a simple, yet effective meditation session to see you through the January Blues.

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  • Are there any simple meditation techniques people (even beginners) can use to relieve stress in 2019?
    • As we enter a new year with so many aspirations and resolutions to make this year bigger and better than the previous, even the slightest down fall can cause emotions to run high and our thoughts might just get ahead of us. Practice taking a few minutes each day to gather the attention on the breath, breathing deeply from the belly…and then a few minutes to just observe whatever thoughts or emotions there are, being completely accepting of them. Doing this every day even for a few minutes keeps us grounded, in the moment, helps to rein in the incessant pull of thoughts and emotions that may seem too much to handle sometimes.
  • Are there any particular foods we can eat to ensure we remain calm and in good mental health?
    • Stress is a complex mental health issue, and multiple factors are involved in its development and maintenance, recent evidence suggests that habitual diet plays an important and independent role in the development of this condition. The relationship between mood and our diet is bidirectional: when we eat good food, we feel good, and when we feel good, we are more likely to want to take care of our bodies by feeding it nutritious food. The opposite is also true… when we eat “junk food” we feel sluggish and down, and when feel down, we are less likely to snack on vegetables!
      • There are many studies showing there’s a strong link between a balanced diet and relaxation. For example:
  • Deficiency in certain nutrients such as vitamin D, folate, vitamins B6 and B12, calcium, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids, are associated with increased risk of depression and feeling stressed.
  • Supplements with calcium, magnesium, and B vitamins have been shown to reduce perceived stress, and has positive effects on mood
  • Omega-3 a fatty acids, tryptophan, and some carbohydrates have been shown to improve mod, reduce stress and cortisol – which is a biomarker of stress
  • Here is a list of foods that make up a balanced diet that can promote good mental health:
  • oily fish-good source of omega-3 fatty acids
  • lean meat- good source of B 12 and B6
  • dairy-good source of calcium, B12 – cheese in particular
  • eggs-good source of tryptophan, B12
  • nuts and seeds and legumes- good source of tryptophan, B6, magnesium
  • green leafy vegetables-good source of magnesium and folate
  • wholegrains- good source of complex carbohydrates, magnesium
  • fermented foods such as yogurt, kimchi, kamboucha – promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria
  • A simple meditation concept
    • Research has shown that regularly practicing compassion meditation not only helps us relate more to others, it also boost our positive feelings of joy and connectedness. Take a couple of minutes to consider yourself and wish yourself well, perhaps saying “May I be well, May I be happy, May I make progress”. then take a couple of minutes to do the same for someone you care for. Then take someone you may know only in passing. And finally, extend this wish for the world…you can do this as part of a step by step guide to meditation:
      • Start small: Setting aside even 5 minutes a day is a great starting point. Write it down in your calendar.
      • Sit up:  you can sit on the floor or on a chair in a comfortable position – keep your back straight so that you don’t fall asleep and the breath flows easily.
      • Breathe: feel your breath as it moves in and out: just follow its rhythm and notice how it feels as it flows through the body.
      • Observe: observe the thoughts that pass through your mind, the sensations that arise in your body, and the emotions that surface (impatience is a common one!). Become the “silent witness”, letting it all come and go, without getting caught up too long any one thought, feeling or sensation.
      • Bring it back: Your mind will wander. This is normal, just notice your mind has wandered, and bring your awareness back to the present experience.
      • Don’t interfere: Don’t try to stop or ignore any thought that rises in your mind, your task is only to become aware of them.
      • Don’t judge: all of our thoughts, feelings and sensations are valid; when meditating, we watch, we don’t judge.
      • Be patient: When you notice an impulse to get up and do something else, be patient, trust that things will unfold in their own time and just stay with your breath.
      • Commit: Try it every day for a week to see how you feel after. As with any practice, it takes a few sessions for it all to make sense.
      • If all fails, relax: If you find it’s not for you, try just breathing deeply in and out of the belly for a few minutes at a time, every day. This triggers the well-documented “relaxation response” in the body, so your stress levels drop as a matter of course.

 

INTRODUCING SISTER SCRIBES: KIRSTEN HESKETH

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The second Sister Scribe I have pleasure in introducing is Kirsten Hesketh. Actually, she’s done a fab job of introducing herself… except she’s failed to mention that she’s kind, generous, funny and super-bright… and two glasses of sherry and a limoncello generally put her under the table.

 

Hello!

My name is Kirsten Hesketh and I am a novelist living in beautiful Henley-on-Thames. I am absolutely delighted to be part of Sister Scribes and I’m very excited to see how the project unfolds over the next weeks and months.

In fact, between you and me, I’m also feeling a twinge of Imposter Syndrome as I am the only one amongst our number who has yet to be published. Shhh … maybe they haven’t realised! Seriously, though, I hope my dispatches from the querying trenches will be interesting and entertaining: after all, isn’t it as much about the journey as the destination?

Anyway, a little about me.

My debut novel, Another Us, is the – hopefully! – poignant and funny story of a marriage at breaking point. Emma and Daniel’s son Jack has been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and Emma is horrified to discover that 80% of such marriages fall apart. I am neuro-typical – if there is such a thing! – but one of my children was diagnosed with mild Asperger Syndrome when he was ten. My book starts pretty close to where we were as a family at that time (with an extra child added in for good measure) but quickly moves into ‘what if?’ territory – exploring the impact of the diagnosis on the family and the marriage.

I wrote the book in fits and starts, slotting it around my day job as a marketing consultant. I made every writing mistake possible – trying to get it right before getting it written (painstakingly polishing passages that didn’t even make the final cut) and sending it out to agents as soon as I’d finished the first draft. I don’t think it really had a plot. Let alone a narrative arc!

About this time, I joined Twitter and started to discover that fellow writers really are the most generous and lovely bunch. Twitter led me to the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) New Writers’ Scheme, which in turn led me to the RNA conference.  The RNA conference led me to delightfully raucous kitchen parties, sore head … and the other Sister Scribes. And along the way, I have met some truly inspirational women writers and poets and I am very excited to be introducing some of them to you in due course …

Once I had worked out what Another Us was really about. I redrafted and polished it and I started pitching to agents again. That was nerve-wracking, but once I’d received the first couple of rejections, I started to enjoy the process. I was lucky enough to have a little flurry of interest and I chose to sign with Felicity Trew from the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency who, interestingly, I had heard speak at the RNA conference. Felicity is advocate, enabler, co-conspirator and therapist all in one and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

I’m now working on my second novel – affectionately titled Muddy Milly – which is set on an archaeological dig and is about a woman facing up to traumas in her past. My hubbie and I are heavily involved in a Roman dig near where we live in the Chilterns and I absolutely love it – the excitement, the camaraderie, the gentle exercise, the beautiful woodland. I’m really looking forward to March when the season starts again …

I’m a proud member of Reading Writers and am currently their treasurer and I’m still a member of the RNS New Writers’ Scheme. I am very much looking forward to the conference in the summer (although my liver is not).

I’m very much looking forward to meeting you all over the coming weeks and months.

Kirsten xx

 

Follow Kirsten on Twitter @Kirsten_Hesketh

Circa – a play by Tom Ratcliffe 

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Old Red Lion Theatre, 418 St John Street, London EC1V 4NJ Tuesday 5th – Saturday 30th March 2019

Image courtesy of Chris Mann

 

Most people get to be happy with one person. I don’t see why I should have it any different.

 

Circa explores the blurred identity of the gay relationship in the modern age. Following the story of one man’s romantic life, we are taken through the different relationships and encounters he experiences over a period of thirty years. Joining him through the joys and pitfalls of trying to find love and fulfilment as a gay man.

 

The twenty-first century. Being gay is supposedly more integrated than ever. Marriage is legal, parenthood is possible and #LoveWins is trending on twitter. The time has arrived to settle down with the man you love for a life of lasting companionship. But in a world where sex is readily available, and with a history of sexual freedom; what does it mean to be in a gay relationship in the modern age? And why are so many gay men still lonely?

After premiering at the Theatre de Meervaart, Amsterdam in 2016, work.Theatre return with Tom Ratcliffe’s debut play in a co-production with Harlow Playhouse.

 

Circa tackles a range of issues head on in an increasingly deep and fascinating exploration – yes, of what it means to be a gay person, but more widely, what it means to be human. I’m pleased there are no set-in-stone answers provided in this most thoughtful debut play from Tom Ratcliffe. As audiences shout at concerts and gigs after a band has done a good job, “More! More!” (LondonTheatre 1).

 

Writer Tom Ratcliffe comments, I can’t wait to be bringing Circa back this year for a longer run in London and then to Harlow. The play has become even more topical over the past two years and loneliness amongst the gay community is something that needs to be spoken about.  I think there’s something for everyone to take away from this play as the striving for contentment in romantic relationships is universal.  The play has developed over the past two years and it’s something I cannot wait to share with everyone.

 

Performance Dates  Tuesday 5th – Saturday 30th March 2019   Tuesday – Saturday, 7.30pm    Saturday and Sunday matinee, 3pm

 

Running time   2 hours including interval

 

Age Recommendation  13+

 

Location   Old Red Lion Theatre, 418 John Street, London EC1V 4NJ

 

Box Office Tickets are available priced from £12 Call 0333 012 4963 or book online at: www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk.

 

Twitter @__Circa, @workTheatre, @tomratcliffe15, @ORLtheatre, #CircaORL

 

Baby Face UK Tour: February – March 2019

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Image courtesy of Daniel Hughes

Hey Baby! Following her hit success at Edinburgh Fringe 2018, award-winning performance artist Katy Dye now takes Baby Face on aUK Tour. Baby Face – winner of The Autopsy Award and Lustrum Award 2018 – is a daring look into the paradox of living in a society that continues to infantilise adult women.

Welcome to a world of knee socks, bunches, lollipops, bubblegum and models adopting the childlike expressions of six-year-old girls. Paedophilia is condemned yet fetishised images of women as prepubescent girls are everywhere. In this brave and outlandish performance, Katy Dye questions if innocence is truly as sexy as we’re told.

[a] pointed examination of the way that women are infantilised and how they sometimes collude… Baby Face is provocative stuff…big on impact (Lyn Gardner, The Independent).

Here, the audience enter a strange world, where a grown woman transforms from adult, to teenager, to toddler, to baby. She dresses in a school uniform and performs Britney’s iconic routine. She squeezes herself into a clingy top printed with cartoons – meant for a child or a grown woman? In a pristine white set, using minimal costumes and a baby’s high chair, she navigates the uncomfortable line between wanting to be cared for and being infantilised. With a soundtrack of bubblegum pop and drone rock, and a cloud of talcum powder and haze, strange mixed messages hang in the air. Baby Face is an exposure of our contradictory society when it comes to women’s bodies and how they are treated.

The production is supported by Arts Council England and the Hunter Foundation.

Baby Face :  running time 50 minutes

Box Office Tickets are available from individual theatre box offices. Twitter @katydye1, #BabyFace

Notes Ages 16+, talcum powder used in show (allergy warning)

Artist/Performer Katy Dye Producer Jack Stancliffe Sound Designer Zac Scott Lighting Design Michaella Fee Rossi Video/photography Daniel Hughes

Performance Dates

7th – 9th February Tron Theatre, Glasgow 63 Trongate, Glasgow G1 5HB 28th February Theatre Deli, Sheffield 202 Eyre Street, Sheffield S1 4QZ

6th March Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield Queen Street, Huddersfield HD1 2SP

8th – 9th March Brighton Dome Church Street, Brighton BN1 1UE

20th March The Lowry, Manchester Pier 8, The Quays, Salford M50 3AZ

23rd March Harlow Playhouse Essex Playhouse Square, Harlow CM20 1LS