Elizabeth Forbes – Shame

‘Shame’ by Elizabeth Forbes is the second book I have read of hers. The first being ‘Nearest Thing To Crazy’. I knew then I had discovered a writer who had an amazing ability to weave a story that is truly gripping with an insight into how people behave too.

This particular book is about George and Martha, to everyone else theirs seems a long successful and strong marriage. Both working good jobs everything is great until you look underneath it all. Their children, twins Fred and Delilah have their 21st birthday coming up and are having a party that their Aunt and Uncle are throwing for them at their father’s childhood home.

We see Martha worrying about the way her life is panning out. She feels invisible in the family until someone needs her for something. She feels George doesn’t ‘see’ her anymore, he cares more about the dog getting a walk and that’s when he is actually home from his trips. The fact that it is her sister-in-law sorting the twins’ party is another double-edged sword for Martha, on the one hand, she is relieved not to have to plan the party and on the other it makes her feel inadequate…less of the mother that she is. Delilah even always goes straight to her aunt instead of her mum to share her issues or anything else. Then there is the house issue, George is the eldest but didn’t want the house for reasons that may not be true ones but it meant his brother took it instead.

George himself is a deeper man than anyone realises. He puts his ‘mask’ on every day so everyone sees a content man, but still rivers run deep and George is battling with his own issues and further developments mean he is struggling with this life he lives. As the story unfolds and the secrets start to be revealed they just keep coming. Everything pouring out and there is no way of stopping them. As a stone dropped in a lake the ripple effect works its way through this family with no one spared, including the reader.

A psychological drama that makes you feel everything. These characters are all brilliantly developed. Elizabeth Forbes makes her characters as real as people you know, every single one is flawed and even if they don’t make the right choices you feel for them still. I really do recommend ‘Shame’, I loved it.

Thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours and Elizabeth Forbes for my stunning copy of ‘Shame’.