October 2015 Book of the Month.
A well-observed domestic drama turns half way through the book into a compulsive, emotional thriller. We are told right at the start that baby Sam is kidnapped. Then in alternating chapters we are given the family’s first few months in Africa and the year leading up to their decision to go there. They are medical consultants with two girls, aged 11 and 6, and the unplanned baby son. The tussles within the family are beautifully portrayed; should they all uproot or just the husband? It is his research into the links between lymphoma and HIV that the institute in Botswana is interested in. They do all go. The months of adjustment are equally fascinating. Then the tragedy hits, the tension is ratcheted up and you will find the book very hard to put down as the search for baby Sam unfolds. It is an excellent read, highly recommended. ~ Sarah Broadhurst
| Primary Genre | Modern and Contemporary Fiction |
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Win a Copy of The Sisters of Hope Square by Faith Hogan and a Bucket List Scratch Book
Closing date: 04/07/2026
Emma and Adam are doctors at the top of their fields and so when they are offered the chance to take their three children to Africa for a year for a research placement it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. It's going to be an experience they'll never forget. But for all the wrong reasons. When Emma arrives home one night to the sickening sight of an empty cot, their family's dream adventure turns into their worst nightmare. Thousands of miles from home and from anyone who can help, they must discover the truth. Is this a random abduction, a tragic accident or something far more sinister?
The Drowning Lesson features in the following genres: Modern and Contemporary Fiction, Books of the Month, Books with reviews by our Reader Review Panel, Thriller and Suspense, Family Drama, Book Club Recommendations, eBooks of the Month, General Fiction, Fiction, Recommendations
The Drowning Lesson is available in Paperback
The Drowning Lesson was written by Jane Shemilt and published by Penguin Books Ltd
The Drowning Lesson has 384 pages
£9.89
