Iain Kelly

If, like me, you turn to historical mysteries when you want a distraction from the life at hand, All We Cannot Leave Behind will provide you several hours', even a weekend's worth, of time away from the vicissitudes of daily life. Set in 1920s Edinburgh, All We Cannot Leave Behind offers an excellent pair of central characters and a satisfyingly twisted plot.

Our central characters, Thomas and Louise, are each haunted in their own way and are reluctant to open up to others. This tendency is decidedly ironic in the case of Thomas. He worked as surgeon during WWI and has taken to drinking himself to sleep in hopes of forgetting what he witnessed on the battlefield. Now that the war is over, Thomas works with British veterans suffering from shell shock using the "talking cure" in hopes of easing their return to civilian life. Despite the fact that Thomas witnesses the value of the "talking cure," he shares his wartime life with no one.

Louise has moved among different poor houses as both a resident and a worker. When the home for fallen women that she has become part of closes, Thomas offers her a room in his home—which came with his practice and is larger than he needs. There's no intention of seduction here. Just two individuals hiding from their pasts, each careful not to trespass onto the secret parts of one another's lives. Theirs is a companionship based on not knowing.

When three children disappear from Edinburgh poor houses, and one is soon found murdered, Thomas finds himself pulled into the investigation, first for his medical knowledge, and later in defense of Louise who has become a suspect. Thomas wrestles with his demons, drinks, and talks with veterans, including a new patient who is clearly lying to him and whose affect makes him deeply uneasy. Louise manages her anxiety by working as an assistant housekeeper at a local boys' school—and is dismissed the moment she comes under suspicion.

Part of the pleasure of the plotting here is that because Thomas and Louise are so determinedly closed off, the reader actually has more knowledge of these crime—and of their own lives—than either of them do. Readers can see the places where puzzle pieces might be slotted together, but aren't, and must wait anxiously for the two of them to catch up with the truth of their own lives and the truth behind these crimes.

If you enjoy historical fiction, particularly mysteries, and appreciate interesting plotting, you'll want to read All We Cannot Leave Behind.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.… (plus d'informations)