The Box - edition 2

A powerful novel on loss, trauma and recovery. Kate has died. Her husband Richard, their ten-year-old son Rick and her twin sister Jo are shocked and devastated. An awkward but caring relationship develops between Richard and Jo as they face their grief and Jo uncovers deeply disturbing memories from the twins' childhood. As she does so, Jo, a long-time mental health patient, begins to find hope and self-belief. This is a bitter-sweet and beautifully observed study of loss and its aftermath, full of intelligence and subtlety. Susan Jordan writes eloquently about the effects of past abuse and extreme distress. The characters are vividly drawn and the sense of place is subtle yet very powerful.

Susan Jordan moved to Devon in 2011, having spent most of her life in London, and loves being close to the countryside and the coast. She worked as a psychotherapist for many years but retired in 2022. She also worked for a branch of Mind, in projects committed to helping users of mental health services lead fuller lives. Part of the inspiration for The Box comes from her work at Mind. The experience of abuse she describes in the novel is also based to a large extent on her work.