BHC Chicken, Toronto, ON

I had lunch today at BHC Chicken in the Well (SpadinaAvenue/Front Street W). 

I ordered 8 chicken tenders (Classic Fried - BHC’s original Korean fried chicken) figuring I would take some home for supper … and I am. They were big and juicy with a bit of a kick in the batter. At $14 for 8, it’s a good deal considering the size and quality. Definitely my go-to when I eat at the Well.

Book ~ "Crow" (2019) Amy Spurway

From Goodreads ~ When Stacey Fortune is diagnosed with three highly unpredictable - and inoperable - brain tumours, she abandons the crumbling glamour of her life in Toronto for her mother Effie's scruffy trailer in rural Cape Breton. Back home, she's known as Crow and everybody suspects that her family is cursed.

With her future all but sealed, Crow decides to go down in a blaze of unforgettable glory by writing a memoir that will raise eyebrows and drop jaws. She'll dig up "the dirt" on her family tree, including the supposed curse, and uncover the truth about her mysterious father, who disappeared a month before she was born.

But first, Crow must contend with an eclectic assortment of characters, including her gossipy Aunt Peggy, hedonistic party-pal Char, homebound best friend Allie, and high-school flame Willy. She'll also have to figure out how to live with her mother and how to muddle through the unsettling visual disturbances that are becoming more and more vivid each day.

Stacey was almost 40, living in Toronto and working for a marketing firm when she discovered she had brain tumours. Having just broke up with her fiancé, she needed someone to take care of her as she was dying so she headed home to rural Cape Breton and moved in with her mom, Effie, in her trailer. Effie works long hard hours as a cleaning lady in a motel and outwardly doesn't have a lot of time or patience for Crow (as Stacey is known at home) feeling sorry for herself. But as we get to know Effie, we find out she really is a caring woman.

Crow doesn't have a lot of support around her. Allie, her best friend, has been living in Halifax taking care of her dying mother. Char, another good friend, has been traveling the world having wild adventures and arrives home with a baby whose father was a murdered Congolese criminal. Peggy, her mother's sister, is a gossip. Willy is an old flame from high school who has a garage and sells weeds on the side. Her father disappeared about a month before she was born and his well-to-do family has never acknowledged her so Effie raised her as a single mom.

This sounds like a dreary story but it was actually amusing and quirky for the most part. I wanted to like it more than I did but it fell apart for me around the 80% point when it took some some weird turns which was disappointing. It's written in first person perspective in Crow's voice. As a head's up, there is swearing.

I lived in Cape Breton in my teens so could relate to some of the places and expressions. For a time, I lived in the general area where Effie's trailer was (on the Bras d'Or Lake).  "Town Town", which was the nearby city is really Sydney (where I lived) and "Bayflower Mall" is really the Mayflower Mall in Sydney. There were references to the "Butterscotch Palace", which was a psychiatric hospital in Sydney and has since been demolished and not far from where I lived.

Honeycomb (aka Newfie) knitted mittens

I just finished knitting a pair of Honeycomb (aka Newfie) mittens to donate ... the colours are black and butter.

I used 4 ply yarn and 5mm double pointed needles.

Wrist

1. With A, cast on 42 sts
2. Knit 1, purl 1 for 18 rows
3. Purl
4. Purl, increasing 2 stitches on each needle for a total of 48 stitches

Pattern

1.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
2. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
3. Purl 2 rows with A
4. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
5. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
6. Purl 2 rows with A
7.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
8. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
9. Purl 2 rows with A
10. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
11. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
12. Purl 2 rows with A

Thumb

1. In step 12 above, purl 2, put 7 stitches on a stitch holder for the thumb and cast on 7 stitches, purl to the end.  Purl 1 row.

Mitten

1. Knit the pattern until long enough (I did 6)
2. Knit 1 row
3. *Knit 4, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
4. Knit 2 rows
5. *Knit 3, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
6. Knit 2 rows
7. *Knit 2, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
8. Knit 2 rows
9. *Knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
10. Thread the yarn through remaining the loops and pull tight
11. Weave end inside

Thumb

1. With A, pick up the 7 stitches from the holder
2. Pick up 7 stitches around the thumb hole for a total of 14 stitches
3. Knit to fit length of thumb
4. Knit 2 together all around
5. Thread the yarn through the remaining loops and pull tight
6. Weave end inside

Happy Victoria Day!

Victoria Day is a federal Canadian public holiday celebrated on the last Monday preceding May 25, initially in honour of Queen Victoria's birthday.

The holiday has been observed in Canada since at least 1845, originally falling on Victoria's actual birthday (May 24, 1819).

Book ~ "The Girls Weekend" (2020) Jody Gehrman

From Goodreads ~ Their reunion just became a crime scene ...

June Moody, a thirty-something English professor, just wants to get away from her recent breakup and reunite with girlfriends over summer break. Her old friend and longtime nemesis, Sadie MacTavish, a mega-successful author, invites June and her college friends to a baby shower at her sprawling estate in the San Juan Islands. June is less than thrilled to spend time with Sadie - and her husband, June's former crush - but agrees to go.

The party gets off to a shaky start when old grudges resurface but when they wake the next morning, they find something worse: Sadie is missing, the house is in shambles and bloodstains mar the staircase. None of them has any memory of the night before; they wonder if they were drugged. Everyone's a suspect. Since June had a secret rendezvous with Sadie's husband, she has plenty of reason to suspect herself. Apparently, so do the cops.

June, Em, Kimi, Sadie and Amy have been friends for about 20 years. Some are closer to each other than others. When Sadie invites them to get together for Amy's baby shower, June begrudgingly goes since she and Sadie have always been frenemies. Sadie is a famous author, is married to June's ex-boyfriend and seems to have everything. Sadie isn't a nice person so there is tension right away between the five of them once they arrive at Sadie's. After a wild night of partying that no one remembers the next day, they discover that Sadie has disappeared and there is a wall covered in blood. The police are called and June becomes a suspect of harming Sadie because of her past history with Sadie's husband.

I've been away for many girls weekends and I'm glad they were never like this! I thought this story was okay. I liked the writing style and thought it moved at a good pace. It is written in first person perspective in June's voice. There were lots of twists and many possibilities on who may have wished Sadie harm and I found the ending believable. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "Friend Request" (2017) Laura Marshall

From Goodreads ~ Maria Weston wants to be friends. But Maria Weston is dead. Isn't she?

1989. When Louise first notices the new girl who has mysteriously transferred late into their senior year, Maria seems to be everything the girls Louise hangs out with aren't. Authentic. Funny. Brash. Within just a few days, Maria and Louise are on their way to becoming fast friends.

2016. Louise receives a heart-stopping email: Maria Weston wants to be friends on Facebook. Long-buried memories quickly rise to the surface: those first days of their budding friendship; cruel decisions made and dark secrets kept; the night that would change all their lives forever.

Louise has always known that if the truth ever came out, she could stand to lose everything. Her job. Her son. Her freedom. Maria's sudden reappearance threatens it all and forces Louise to reconnect with everyone she'd severed ties with to escape the past. But as she tries to piece together exactly what happened that night, Louise discovers there's more to the story than she ever knew. To keep her secret, Louise must first uncover the whole truth, before what's known to Maria - or whoever's pretending to be her - is known to all.

In 1989, Louise was in her last year of high school when Maria transferred to their school during the year. Louise and Maria got along great but Louise always wanted to be part of Sophie's crowd, who are "mean girls". Sophie made it clear Louise couldn't be friends with them both and had to choose and Louise chose the mean girls. On the night of their prom, Maria disappeared and was eventually presumed dead.

Twenty-seven years later, Louise is divorced with a young son and she has a successful interior design business. One day she gets a Facebook friend request from Maria ... but how can that be since Maria has been dead for a long time? She accepts and then starts touching base with some of the people she went to high school with to see if they had too. She discovers there is a high school reunion coming up and debates about going since she hasn't kept in touch with anyone but hopes it will solve the mystery of Maria.

I thought this book had an interesting premise since so many of us use Facebook. Who wouldn't be freaked out to receive a Facebook friend request and messages from a dead schoolmate? It started out okay but quickly went downhill but I kept going because I was curious to see how it was going to end.

It's written in first person perspective in Louise's voice. It jumps back and forth from 1989 to 2016 (the chapters are labeled). I found Louise unlikeable and annoying in both time periods. She was so desperate in high school to be Sophie's friend that she would do anything Sophie asked her to do, no matter how terrible it was. The Louise in present day didn't seemed to have moved on from her high school days and kept dwelling on and on and on how she let Maria down when she stopped being friends with her in high school and the part she may have played in Maria's disappearance. It took a long time for the author so long to reveal what happened. The book could have been tighter as I found it was draggy and repetitive. When the endings came, I thought they were ridiculous (one came out of nowhere) and wasn't buying them.

"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", Stratford Festival, Stratford, ON

Gord and I saw Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (part of the Stratford Festival) this afternoon.

We took the Stratford Festival bus there and back … thanks, Doug!

It was at the Avon Theatre (downtown on Downie Street).

Gord and I

IT WAS JOY, IT WAS SUBLIME, A SPLENDID WAY TO EARN A DIME. 

 Lawrence Jameson is no stranger to the high life—he’s lived it for years by separating lonely rich ladies from their fortunes in a swanky Riviera town. When he and his chief competitor in the con business, Freddy Benson, make a bet to swindle an heiress out of $50,000, the professional scoundrels soon discover they may not always be the smartest people in the room. Inspired by the hit 1988 film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, the musical comedy earned 11 Tony Award nominations for its hilarious hijinks and frivolity—beautifully reminiscent of an earlier age.

It was really good … funny and risqué. Similar but different from the movie, which I love. 

Chuck’s Roadhouse Bar and Grill, Stratford, ON

Gord and I had lunch today on the back patio at Chuck’s Roadhouse in Stratford.

He had a Grilled Chicken Club and a salad (Bacon, lettuce, tomato, roasted garlic aioli and grilled chicken on a brioche bun) and he enjoyed it.

Book ~ "The Jackass Whisperer" (2019) Scott Stratten and Alison Stratten

From Goodreads ~ A rallying cry for everyone tired of keyboard commandos and people who use speakerphones in open plan offices, "The Jackass Whisperer" is your guide to dealing with the worst people on earth.

Jackasses are those who make our lives needlessly harder. They drive too slowly in the fast lane and too quickly in the slow lane, reply all, heat up fish in the microwave at work and share way too much information about their cleanse on Facebook. They live in our homes, work in our offices and shop at our stores. Jackasses are among us and we have some bad news for you: if you can’t spot the Jackass at the (enter literally any place on the planet), then the Jackass is you.

After a lifetime of research, Scott and Alison Stratten offer the definitive guide to surviving the Jackassery in your life and making the world a better place, one set of noise-cancelling headphones at a time.

The Jackass Whisperer explores the frustrating world of difficult people, who the authors call jackasses. The message is that while we can’t control other people’s behaviour, we can control how we respond to them. 

With 125 different scenarios, they show common types of jackassery encountered in everyday life. Each chapter focuses on a different setting (at work, online, in traffic, in parenting, etc.) offering advice on how to respond with a jackass reaction or a whisperer reaction. At the end, you can tally your reactions and see what you are (I had mostly whisperer reactions).

I've read other books by Scott and have liked them. Like this one, not only is there humour but there are some skills you can take away and put in practice in your life.

Book ~ "A Christmas Story: Behind the Scenes of a Holiday Classic" (2013) Caseen Gaines

From Goodreads ~ The definitive guide to everything fans want to know about "A Christmas Story" shares the inside story behind the film’s production, release, and unlikely ascent to the top of popular culture. 

From Jean Shepherd’s original radio broadcasts to Bob Clark’s 1983 sleeper hit film and beyond, "A Christmas Story" has become a beloved Yuletide tradition over the last three decades. 

In conjunction with the 30th anniversary of its theatrical release, this is the untold story of the making of the film and what happened afterwards. Ralphie Parker’s quest for a Red Ryder air rifle didn’t end with the movie’s release; the tale inspired massive VHS sales, a Broadway production and a mountain of merchandise. Complete with rare and previously unreleased photographs, now fans of the movie and film buffs alike can learn all they didn’t know about the timeless classic.

"A Christmas Story: Behind the Scenes of a Holiday Classic" is about the making, legacy and impact of the 1983 film "A Christmas Story". The book explores the origins of the film, which was based on the semi-autobiographical stories of Jean Shepherd found in his book, "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash". Gaines provides behind-the-scenes stories such as challenges during production (waiting/hoping for snow for the school yard scenes) and reveals little-known facts about the cast and crew (like hiding the fact that the actress playing the teacher was eight months pregnant in real life but they had to hide this because a pregnant teacher wasn't a thing in the time the movie takes place). 

The book also discusses how the film, which had modest success at the box office, gradually gained cult status through repeated television broadcasts, especially its 24-hour Christmas marathon. The book looks at fan devotion, memorabilia and even the restoration of the house used in the film, which has become a museum (the museum was recently sold and the website isn't working). 

We usually watch "A Christmas Story" around Christmastime every year so it was interesting to find out more about it. The book was published in 2013 and had insights from most of the actors (though nothing from the actors who played Ralphie, the mom and the dad, who had passed away by then). For the younger actors, this seems to be their peak of success and they are still riding it (the actor who played Randy quit his job at Starbucks to live in the museum for a while as a tour guide). I found the book got a bit uninteresting when the focus shifted to musicals that were made about it. There were lots of pictures, which was fun. Surprisingly there was some swearing when some of the actors were quoted.

Honeycomb (aka Newfie) knitted mittens

I just finished knitting a pair of Honeycomb (aka Newfie) mittens to donate ... the colours are black and red.

I used 4 ply yarn and 5mm double pointed needles.

Wrist

1. With A, cast on 42 sts
2. Knit 1, purl 1 for 18 rows
3. Purl
4. Purl, increasing 2 stitches on each needle for a total of 48 stitches

Pattern

1.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
2. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
3. Purl 2 rows with A
4. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
5. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
6. Purl 2 rows with A
7.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
8. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
9. Purl 2 rows with A
10. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
11. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
12. Purl 2 rows with A

Thumb

1. In step 12 above, purl 2, put 7 stitches on a stitch holder for the thumb and cast on 7 stitches, purl to the end.  Purl 1 row.

Mitten

1. Knit the pattern until long enough (I did 6)
2. Knit 1 row
3. *Knit 4, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
4. Knit 2 rows
5. *Knit 3, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
6. Knit 2 rows
7. *Knit 2, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
8. Knit 2 rows
9. *Knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
10. Thread the yarn through remaining the loops and pull tight
11. Weave end inside

Thumb

1. With A, pick up the 7 stitches from the holder
2. Pick up 7 stitches around the thumb hole for a total of 14 stitches
3. Knit to fit length of thumb
4. Knit 2 together all around
5. Thread the yarn through the remaining loops and pull tight
6. Weave end inside

Firkin on the Bay, Etobicoke, ON

Gord and I had supper on the patio of Firkin on the Bay (on Marine Parade Drive) this evening. It was a busy spot!

He had Roasted Garlic Ravioli (Truffle cream sauce, peas, parmesan, garlic toast), which he liked and said he’d get again. 

I had Chicken Curry (A house-made favourite since 1987, served with basmati rice, buttered naan). It was okay. It had a bite to it but there wasn’t much chicken. I wouldn’t get this again.

"OVO", Cirque Du Soleil, Etobicoke, ON

 Gord and I went to this afternoon's performance of Cirque du Soliel's OVO.

Love in the Insect World

In OVO, an awkward, quirky insect discovers a magnificent ladybug in a bustling neighborhood, and they instantly fall in love. Their enchanting romance unfolds amidst a vibrant ecosystem, revealing a world filled with energy and life.

Here, insects work, eat, flutter, and play in a riot of motion, showcasing the beauty and biodiversity of their hidden universe.

I’ve seen many Cirques over the years and thought this one was just okay. It's in an arena rather than a big top tent. There didn't seem to be as many WOW performances in this one. The costumes and set were really colourful.

We couldn't say "no" to the photo opp!

Inside you can buy drinks, food and souvenirs.

Book ~ "From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home" (2019) Tembi Locke

From Goodreads ~ It was love at first sight when actress Tembi met professional chef, Saro, on a street in Florence. There was just one problem: Saro’s traditional Sicilian family did not approve of his marrying a black American woman. However, the couple, heartbroken but undeterred, forged on. They built a happy life in Los Angeles, with fulfilling careers, deep friendships and the love of their lives: a baby girl they adopted at birth. Eventually, they reconciled with Saro’s family just as he faced a formidable cancer that would consume all their dreams.

"From Scratch chronicles" three summers Tembi spends in Sicily with her daughter, Zoela, as she begins to piece together a life without her husband in his tiny hometown hamlet of farmers. Where once Tembi was estranged from Saro’s family, now she finds solace and nourishment - literally and spiritually - at her mother-in-law’s table. In the Sicilian countryside, she discovers the healing gifts of simple fresh food, the embrace of a close knit community, and timeless traditions and wisdom that light a path forward. All along the way she reflects on her and Saro’s romance - an incredible love story that leaps off the pages.

While studying in Italy, Tembi, an African-American woman, meets Saro, a Sicilian chef. They fall in love, even though his traditional family isn't exactly thrilled at first. Eventually they build a life together in Los Angeles and adopt a daughter, Zoela. Their happy life takes a turn when Saro gets cancer and passes away. After his death, Tembi and Zoela head to Sicily to reconnect with his roots and spend time with his family. Happily his family had accepted her a few years before and welcome her into their homes.

I thought this book was okay. It bounced back and forth from the past to the present. It was interesting to read about their customs. For example, Saro's parents didn't approve of the relationship and marriage and his father, as the patriarch, forbid anyone in the family to have contact with Saro and Tembi ... and the members of his family went along with it. Eventually his second cousin visited them and then other members started to reach out until finally his parents did. From the author's descriptions, Sicily sounds like a nice place to visit. There are recipes at the back. It would have been nice to have some pictures included of Saro, Tembi and the rest of the families. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Tembi and I share a birthday (she's 8 years younger) and got married to Saro on our birthday, which is coincidentally what Gord and I did!

Cherry Blossoms, Trinity Bellwoods Park, Toronto, ON

Though it's a bit late this year, it's cherry blossom time in Toronto.  

There are various parks you can go to see them. The closest park to us is Trinity Bellwoods Park and they started blooming there last week. Cherry blossom time doesn't last long so everyone flocks to see them while they last.  

KC's tree, Trinity Bellwoods Park, Toronto, ON

I visited KC's tree at Trinity Bellwoods Park this afternoon while I was checking out the cherry blossoms in the park. I was there a couple weeks ago the trees hadn't started coming alive yet. There are now trees with a fair amount of leaves and KC's tree is starting to bud.

Book ~ "The Big Empty" (2025) Robert Crais

From Goodreads ~ Traci Beller was thirteen when her father disappeared in the sleepy town of Rancha, not far from Los Angeles. The evidence says Tommy Beller abandoned his family but Traci never believed it. The police couldn't find her dad and neither could the detectives her mother hired but now, ten years later, Traci is a super-popular influencer with millions of followers and the money to hire a new detective: Elvis Cole.

Taking on a ten-years-cold missing person case is almost always a loser but Elvis heads to Rancha where he learns an ex-con named Sadie Givens and her daughter, Anya, might have a line on the missing man. But when Elvis finds himself shadowed by a deadly gang of vicious criminals, the simple missing persons case becomes far more sinister and dangerous. Elvis calls in his ex-Marine friend, Joe Pike, to help, but even Pike might not be able to help.

As Elvis Cole and Joe Pike follow Tommy Beller's trail into the twisted nightmare depths of a monstrous evil, the case flips on its head. Victims become predators, predators become prey and when everyone is a victim, can Elvis Cole save them all?

In a case that tests Elvis Cole's loyalty to his clients and himself, the truth must come out no matter the cost. Elvis must face The Big Empty and see justice done.

Elvis Cole is a private detective and is hired by Traci, an influencer and baker, to find her father. Tommy had disappeared on his way home from work 10 years ago. Traci's mother had hired a private detective to find him but nothing came of it so she had him declared legally dead. With the 10 year anniversary of his disappearance coming up, Traci wants Elvis to reopen the case and find out what happened to her father. Ten years is a long time and a lot of the people from the initial investigation are dead or have moved. Elvis finds a witness who hadn't been interviewed all those years ago and this eventually provides him with more clues to follow and he does eventually find out what happened, which provides him with a moral dilemma.

I discovered the Elvis Cole series in the 1990s.  What attracted me to it was that Elvis was funny and tried to be charming ... the books were a fun read.  I found the last few in the series more heavy and serious and not as much fun and didn't really enjoy them. This book seemed to be reminiscent of the earlier books ... yay! It's written in first person perspective when the focus is on Elvis and third person perspective when it's Joe Pike, Elvis' friend and partner (always fun to have Joe in a book!), and the "kill car" (I wasn't crazy about the kill car chapters).  Though it's #20 in the series, it works as a stand alone. As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.

Honeycomb (aka Newfie) knitted mittens

I just finished knitting a pair of Honeycomb (aka Newfie) mittens to donate ... the colours are black and red.

I used 4 ply yarn and 5mm double pointed needles.

Wrist

1. With A, cast on 42 sts
2. Knit 1, purl 1 for 18 rows
3. Purl
4. Purl, increasing 2 stitches on each needle for a total of 48 stitches

Pattern

1.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
2. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
3. Purl 2 rows with A
4. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
5. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
6. Purl 2 rows with A
7.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
8. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
9. Purl 2 rows with A
10. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
11. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
12. Purl 2 rows with A

Thumb

1. In step 12 above, purl 2, put 7 stitches on a stitch holder for the thumb and cast on 7 stitches, purl to the end.  Purl 1 row.

Mitten

1. Knit the pattern until long enough (I did 6)
2. Knit 1 row
3. *Knit 4, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
4. Knit 2 rows
5. *Knit 3, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
6. Knit 2 rows
7. *Knit 2, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
8. Knit 2 rows
9. *Knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
10. Thread the yarn through remaining the loops and pull tight
11. Weave end inside

Thumb

1. With A, pick up the 7 stitches from the holder
2. Pick up 7 stitches around the thumb hole for a total of 14 stitches
3. Knit to fit length of thumb
4. Knit 2 together all around
5. Thread the yarn through the remaining loops and pull tight
6. Weave end inside

Book ~ "Famous Last Words" (2025) Gillian McAllister

From Goodreads ~ It is June 21st, the longest day of the year, and new mother Camilla’s life is about to change forever. After months of maternity leave, she will drop her infant daughter off at daycare for the first time and return to her job as a literary agent. Finally. But, when she wakes, her husband Luke isn’t there and in his place is a cryptic note.

Then it starts. Breaking news: there's a hostage situation developing in London. The police arrive, and tell her Luke is involved. But he isn't a hostage. Her husband - doting father, eternal optimist - is the gunman.

What she does next is crucial. Because only she knows what the note he left behind that morning says ...

Camilla has been off on maternity leave and is heading back to work. When she wakes up that morning, Luke, her husband, is nowhere to be found. He isn't answering texts and she then finds a short odd note from him. After she drops their daughter off at daycare, she goes to the office, excited to start her day. She's not there long before there is a hostage situation in a warehouse and police determine that Luke is involved. They arrive at Camilla's office to take her home. Things go wrong ... one hostage is released, two hostages are shot and killed and Luke has disappeared.

Seven years later, Luke is still missing and Cam is still trying to move on with her life. Not surprising it's hard because she still wonders what happened to make Luke kidnap and shoot the two hostages, which was out of character for him. And how the events unfolded still haunts Niall, the hostage negotiator.

I wasn't crazy about this story. I found it overly long and draggy. I could have done without Niall's side story of the break-up of his marriage and the time spent with a therapist still dealing with the hostage taking events and his marriage. There was so much of the book devoted to this. I can understand these things would bother him over the years but thought it could have been covered in a lot less detail. I could have also have done without all the time spend on Cam's older sister, Libby's desire to get pregnant. It didn't add to the mystery of what happened to Luke and why he did what he did, which to me was the point of the book.

It's written in third person perspective with a focus on Camilla and Niall. I didn't find Camilla overly likeable and I found Niall kind of boring. When the ending came (we finally find out what happened to Luke and why he did what he did), I thought "huh?" and I wasn't buying it. As a head's up, there is swearing.