Patrick Hinde is a complex character, who has had an odd and irksome childhood. His mother obsessive and unable to cope with day-to-day life and decision-making, a father undemonstrative, dismissive and intolerant. Their unity bringing out the worst of each other.

Already married and in a somewhat unusual relationship, whereby his wife, albeit intuitive and undemanding has little need to converse and discuss life as would most couples. Following a visit by his parents, there is a hazy description of events whereby Patrick completely forgets to drop off his child and leaves him in the car all day. This results in the tragic death of their son. Life can never be the same again…

Five years on, you catch up with Patrick’s life as he leads a reasonably solitary life in a village in south-west France. Here a British woman, Leonnie,  becomes quietly fascinated by this man who now calls himself Patrice. He leads a very curious life; he will never get into or drive a car, he is guarded about his past life, he clearly bears some wounds, which she feels she can wistfully help heal overtime.

None of Leonnie’s friends warm to Patrice. He fails to call and leaves her unclear of his intentions or actions. This causes her to go through a plethora of mixed emotions and feelings, but when he does get in touch, with charm and flattery she finds herself repeatedly forgiving him. Whilst he never lies to her, he keeps so much from her about his actions, although he does recognise that he doesn’t always behave as he should. But then there doesn’t seem any real internal struggle to want to change this.

Almost a little surprisingly the relationship does blossom & strengthen further, until the fateful day when Leonnie finds out and informs Patrice she is pregnant. Whilst stunned he retains a refined reaction. Leonnie having secretly wanted a child for sometime is over the moon. However without a word Patrice bolts up his French home and disappears without a trace.

As the story progresses you learn more about Patrick’s life and how events had unfolded. Against their better judgement Leonnie’s friends help to track him down, so that she can confront matters and find closure. She is once again allured to him back in London, but things have now become more complicated again…

I think as readers, we’re meant to understand and reason with Patrick and his behaviour because of the fact that he doesn’t believe he deserves happiness. However I found myself unconvinced – I couldn’t quite take to his character. For me his actions were calculating, deliberate and self-centred. Flight might have been his defence mechanism, as his childhood was difficult and slightly damaging, but his personal thoughts lacked warmth or vulnerable fear. Even as his character develops more positively, I didn’t find myself convinced that deep down he was a good soul and felt  worried for any woman who should become involved with him; that she might end up in a lonely, controlled relationship.

In the end he has an opportunity to tell the truth, so taking him on a different path, but it’s whether he can do this – will he have the courage and what will be the consequences of his actions? His choices are not easy nor do they necessarily entail a happy ending.

The book contains very clever and powerful dialogue. It does make you try to work out what’s happening, building up tension and drip feeding you increments of relevant information about the characters and their lives. It has a generous flow and an intriguing plot, not necessarily predictable or run of the mill. It allows you to consider the unseen effects of childhood struggles and complexities life’s turn of events can bring about. Maybe Patrick’s character is more realistic of damaged individuals, who even if they become more rounded will always retain large imperfections, not realistically able to transform into the cosy fictional characters books may be more inclined to display.

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