‘Don’t Ask’ by Paul Carroll is a story that handles dark, deep and sensitive subjects. My heart went out to the characters, my maternal instinct kicking in again.

Everything starts with a gifted DNA promotion test. When Elsa Watson takes a DNA ancestry test out of idle curiosity she little imagines the devastating consequences she is about to unleash. Two families become reluctantly entwined as inconvenient truths and long-suppressed memories resurface.

A story that moves between two timelines and also between London and Leeds. ‘Don’t Ask’ visits the glam rock Seventies, Britpop, Operation Yewtree and the #metoo movement of the present day. It highlights how the decision of one person begins a chain of events that unravels so many secrets, scandals and shame for so many other people.

The characters that become entangled in Elsa’s actions include members of a glam rock band, a retired teacher and a contestant on a talent show as well as a solicitor. As the story flits back and forth we gain an insight into each of their lives which shows us what they have each been through. Elsa herself in the beginning comes across as being very selfish and not caring about the others and the impact upon them. As the story moves forward we see she has mental health issues that are the reason for her behaviour and how she reacts to people in social situations.

A very twisty and hard-hitting story throughout. Paul Carroll has entwined all the characters with all their issues together and managed to handle them very well. A thought-provoking story that is very well written and very immersive.

Thanks to Random Things Tours and Matador for the copy of the book.