REVIEW: ELIZABETH IS MISSING BY EMMA HEALEY

Published by Harper Collins, 2014. Hardback, 302 pgs

Maud is in her eighties and is certain her dear friend Elizabeth is missing. Voicing her concerns to the police, caretakers, and Elizabeth's own son, she is mostly ignored. Unsure of her own sanity and her fragmented memories, Maud tries to piece together her memories of the last few weeks with wanderings around town and note taking. The story is told by Maud, so we acutely feel the frustration of her condition. Reading it felt oppressive at times, and therefore was a bit slow going. The flashbacks to her teenage years during World War II were a sort of reprieve, except things weren't always rosy on that side either with wartime rationing and a crisis with her sister.

This book is good, but so relentlessly heartbreaking. I unrealistically kept wishing Maud would have breakthroughs in her dementia, and wouldn't have to continually suffer the confusion and defeat of her disease. I desperately wanted her to just stay home and follow her notes in an orderly fashion- no exceptions.

I wanted to hug Maud's daughter Helen, and tell her what a good job she was doing, and not to get discouraged. We hear so many bad things about caretakers and family members in the news- this novel was a breath of fresh air in reminding readers that family members can be good to each other as well. They are often unsung heroes. The details we get on Maud's deep friendship with Elizabeth are sincere and strong, in stark contrast to her lack of immediate short term memories. 

It's an emotionally draining read. You feel you've gone through battle with her family, and unfortunately this condition is ultimately a losing battle. However, Healey manages a great story and bits of truth and reality to seep in, with a satisfying conclusion. If you like powerful reads, a bit of mystery, literary writing, and unreliable narrators, Elizabeth is Missing will satisfy. 3.5 stars