She left without a trace… not even a crumb.
For student and waitress, Sylvia Morelle, it’s just another day at the French café in Covent Garden – that is, until her beloved elderly regular, Mrs Ida Laine, mysteriously disappears.
As weeks go by with no sign of the glamorous Parisian, the young journalist in training begins her own investigation, only to unearth far more than she could ever have imagined.
Where is Ida Laine? And what is she running from?
My Review
This was a very enjoyable read and I loved the characters of Sylvia Morelle, and her mum and dad Carolynne and Raphael. Ida Laine, the elderly Parisian lady who visits the cafe where Sylvia works not so much, and certain things about her irritated me. Glamorous or self-absorbed? At one point Sylvia wonders if Ida’s apartment in Paris would be all perfect and pristine or warm and homely. I know which one I would prefer.
What starts as a simple story of a young woman celebrating the relationship she has formed with the old lady becomes a tale of mystery and intrigue. Where is Ida? She is always there on a Sunday at the same time, but no one has seen her for three weeks. Has she just vanished off the face of the planet? Has she gone back to Paris or has something sinister happened to her? It is when Sylvia starts looking that she makes a life changing discovery.
The story is told from different points of view and timelines, the main ones being Sylvia now, and Ida many years ago, plus Ida’s son Frederic and his relationship with Vie. It’s a story of secrets, love, loss and unbearable grief. How do we overcome the unimaginable and can we be forgiven for the decisions we made at the time?
It’s a remarkable debut novel, mainly because of the depth of the characters, particularly Frederic who must have been hard to write. Can we find any justification for his behaviour? And do we question those who kept the devastating secrets? You will finish the book with so many questions and maybe a few answers of your own.
Many thanks to @LiterallyPR for inviting me to be part of the #HerEmptyChair blog tour.
About the Author
Sunna Coleman is a bestselling author exploring the themes of identity, culture and relationships. She writes twisty, emotional page-turners with strong female leads.
She has spoken on live and virtual stages alongside the likes of the BBC, ITV, C4, Warner Bros and Disney on how to inspire with words. She has also helped over fifty entrepreneurs publish their influential stories.
During her career of over ten years, she has interviewed the likes of Shaun of the Dead director Edgar Wright, actor and filmmaker Aziz Ansari, renowned chef Heston Blumenthal and created content for top brands such as Calvin Klein, Ted Baker, Revlon, Lindt, Hotel Chocolat and many more.
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