A plane crashes onto a holiday site in Dorset. Nell is distraught with guilt at her brother’s life changing injuries but is also hiding a terrible secret…
One Girl, One Summer is a mix of family drama and police procedural set in the UK. There are some big issues dealt with in this book but they are handled sensitively. The writing style is engaging and I was immediately drawn into the lives of the Gale family.
Nell was supposed to take her brother to his tennis lesson but she was late due to her emotional turmoil following a sexual encounter. She is horrified that a video of the incident is circulating and devastated for her brother who suffers catastrophic injuries in the plane crash. Her family need to adjust to the change in circumstances but will Nell find the courage to speak out about the attack?
Meanwhile, the police are investigating the plane crash. The pilot escaped with severe burns and amnesia, and he doesn’t remember that he had a child in the plane with him who died. Who is the pilot and was he related to the child? The police gradually become aware of another series of crimes as young women are being attacked and filmed and DS Ali Samson is determined to resolve both cases urgently. I really liked Ali’s character which I felt balanced the emotion of the Gales.
The drama of the opening chapters sets the tension and mystery for the whole book. Poor Nell is going through something truly dreadful and is afraid of revealing the truth. However the unfortunate events do bring her closer to her adopted cousin Dylan and I liked the way that the family relationships are explored as the plot progresses. I thought that the portrayal of Nell’s alcoholic uncle was sympathetic whilst also showing the wider impact on the whole family.
Nell’s mum Cathy goes on the biggest emotional journey as she deals with her own past trauma which she has hidden for decades. This has dictated her relationships with others but now she is forced to confront it as she deals with her son’s physical injuries and her daughter’s emotional distress. She is fiercely protective of her children but her softer side is shown when she shows compassion to the injured pilot.
One Girl, One Summer is an emotional family drama with the added elements of the plane crash and police investigation which add tension and mystery.
Book blurb:
Some summers cast long shadows…
On a peaceful hilltop campsite in the heat of summer, a private plane crash-lands. Several are killed, and many more lives are shattered – including those of the Gale family who own the site. For single parent Cathy Gale, her everyday struggles are eclipsed by the tragedy, as her boy Albie is one of the victims. He hangs onto life, while 18-year-old sister Nell, who was meant to be looking after him, is overcome with guilt.
As DS Ali Samson leads the investigation, locals are scandalised to learn that the amnesiac pilot has plans to stay on in the community. As dark secrets come to light, teenager Nell goes into freefall. What is it she’s so desperate to conceal? And exactly who is the Unknown Pilot?
