The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
7/10
A Keeper
Graham Norton
Broadcaster Graham Norton’s second novel is surprising and sensitive. The heart of the novel is a family story – split over two generations and 40 years apart. Elizabeth Keane returns to Ireland after her mother’s death to sort out her things and finds a small stash of letters that sheds light on her mother’s past. The narrative switches backwards and forwards in time between the two intercut stories with a masterful skill in construction. Grief, bereavement and loss are perceptively dealt with. There’s an honest picture of family ties and relationships with gentle humour running through the messy lives portrayed. The balance between the two stories never goes out of kilter and the ways we impact those closest to us is acutely observed.