Instructions For A Heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell

I’m a big Maggie O’Farrell fan so I was looking forward to reading this.  The story is set against the backdrop of the heatwave of 1976.  It’s a story about relationships.  It is written from multiple viewpoints – I’m not usually a fan of multiple viewpoint novels, but this worked for me as all the voices were distinct.  The story opens with Gretha in London.  She is up early baking her usual soda bread despite the heat.  Her husband, Robert, greets her as usual and then pops out to the newsagents – something he’s done every day since his retirement.  What starts as a normal day turns into an extraordinary one when Robert doesn’t return.  We then meet their children:- Michael-Francis, a teacher with two young children and marital problems.  Monica, the favoured child, who has just re-married and become a step-mother; she should be happy, but she’s not.    And, Aoife the youngest and wildest child, living in New York after falling out with Monica.  As the crisis deepens, the family pull together as they try and solve the mystery of Robert’s disappearance and face up to their own problems.  The story depicts the intricacies of family relationships so well.  I could feel the sticky heat of the summer of 1976 and there was a real sense of place, especially when the story moves to Ireland.  I wasn’t sure when I started reading if I was going to enjoy this as much as Maggie O’Farrell’s previous novels, but it didn’t disappoint and I thoroughly enjoyed the read.