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Un long, si long après-midi
« Entre la Couleur des sentiments et Mad Men , Inga Vesper dénonce, d'une plume caustique et efficace, l'American way of life fait de faux-semblants. » Version Femina Dans sa cuisine baignée de soleil californien, Joyce rêve à sa fenêtre. Elle est blanche, elle est riche. Son horizon de femme au foyer, pourtant, s'arrête aux haies bien taillées de son jardin. Ruby, elle, travaille comme femme de ménage chez Joyce et rêve de changer de vie. Mais en 1959, la société américaine n'a rien à offrir à une jeune fille noire et pauvre. Quand Joyce disparaît, le vernis des faux-semblants du rêve américain se craquelle. La lutte pour l'égalité des femmes et des afro-américains n'en est qu'à ses débuts, mais ces deux héroïnes bouleversantes font déjà entendre leur cri. Celui d'un espoir brûlant de liberté. Inga Vesper vit en Écosse. Un long, si long après-midi est son premier roman. Traduit de l’anglais (Écosse) par Thomas Leclere
432 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 640 reviews
January 16, 2021
The long, long afternoon in question takes place in Sunnylake Santa Monica on 25th August 1959. The case is the mysterious disappearance of mother of two Joyce Haney and a blood stained kitchen. The first policeman on the scene immediately arrests black maid Ruby Wright but the mystery deepens as conflicting pieces of evidence emerge challenging Detective Mick Blanke. The story is told in alternating points of view by Mick, Joyce and Ruby.
First of all, the late 50’s era is extremely well conveyed with the racism towards Ruby toe curling well depicted, she’s powerless and has to be subservient and is certainly exploited. The white wealthy Sunnylake is colourfully captured in all it’s arrogant male superiority. The men at work and women in the kitchen is clearly apparent and is an excellent exploration of 50’s attitudes. Joyce’s numb perspective is very illuminating as to keep her submissive she’s drugged up to the eyeballs to ensure her compliance and it’s clear she is unraveling. Sunnylake looks like a wonderful place to live with it’s big houses and manicured lawns but it’s a pretence, it’s fantasy la-la land with so many secrets it’s a wonder it doesn’t combust. The whole area feels off from the start as does the crime scene and some characters behaviour. The characters are good especially Ruby, she’s amazing, strong, clever and doggedly determined and I like the growing respect for her from Detective Blanke. The tension and intrigue builds well and intensifies like the LA heat and there are some shockingly disturbing discoveries and revelations. However, I think the ending let’s a really good story down as it feels a bit farcical and made the police look like Keystone Cops and so doesn’t entirely work for me.
Overall though, this is a well written novel with a good premise that unfolds well. It depicts the time with accuracy, setting it into the context of the times as well as with events in LA.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books Manila Press for the arc for an honest review.
First of all, the late 50’s era is extremely well conveyed with the racism towards Ruby toe curling well depicted, she’s powerless and has to be subservient and is certainly exploited. The white wealthy Sunnylake is colourfully captured in all it’s arrogant male superiority. The men at work and women in the kitchen is clearly apparent and is an excellent exploration of 50’s attitudes. Joyce’s numb perspective is very illuminating as to keep her submissive she’s drugged up to the eyeballs to ensure her compliance and it’s clear she is unraveling. Sunnylake looks like a wonderful place to live with it’s big houses and manicured lawns but it’s a pretence, it’s fantasy la-la land with so many secrets it’s a wonder it doesn’t combust. The whole area feels off from the start as does the crime scene and some characters behaviour. The characters are good especially Ruby, she’s amazing, strong, clever and doggedly determined and I like the growing respect for her from Detective Blanke. The tension and intrigue builds well and intensifies like the LA heat and there are some shockingly disturbing discoveries and revelations. However, I think the ending let’s a really good story down as it feels a bit farcical and made the police look like Keystone Cops and so doesn’t entirely work for me.
Overall though, this is a well written novel with a good premise that unfolds well. It depicts the time with accuracy, setting it into the context of the times as well as with events in LA.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books Manila Press for the arc for an honest review.
December 27, 2020
A decent little whodunit with much to enjoy. I particularly liked the sense of time and place, 1959 Santa Monica came alive, the oppressive heat of summer and the oppressive feeling of living in an age when the middle class white male was all powerful, with the women trapped in their domestic roles, their homes feeling like beautiful cages. The plight of black folks, completely powerless, trying to eke out a life while subservient to whites makes for suitably uncomfortable reading, all these things were very well portrayed. On the down side, some of the characters were a bit flat, particularly the detective, and some of their actions were somewhat random and didn't ring true, just used as a convenient way to move the plot forward. I also feel the ending dragged on too long and felt almost farcical, though ultimately satisfying. 3 stars and I would definitely read more from this author. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
May 4, 2021
A great new author discovery!
A complex time in US history and author Inga Vesper deals with some very controversial issues with accuracy and sensitivity. Housewife Joyce Haney disappears one afternoon, leaving behind her two very young children, a pool of blood and 'the help' who discovers the shambles. Somewhere between 'The Stepford Wives,' 'The Help' and 'The Truman Show', this novel devels into the multifaceted issues you would expect in a suburban town in 1959.
The plot is a solid whodunnit, but the characters drive the storyline. Empathy, sympathy, frustration and Ruby's grit and determination keep the reader invested in the outcomes. A few issues with how characters behave, react and remember kept this from being a five-star read for me, but certainly a worthy read.
Chauvinism, racism and children needing to be seen and not heard prevail throughout the story. The impact and effect of decisions surrounding the tenacious and fiercely driven Ruby, who is the true hero of this story, kept me interested to the end.
The ending felt a little too pretty and predictable but still satisfying. Definitely an author I will read again!
A complex time in US history and author Inga Vesper deals with some very controversial issues with accuracy and sensitivity. Housewife Joyce Haney disappears one afternoon, leaving behind her two very young children, a pool of blood and 'the help' who discovers the shambles. Somewhere between 'The Stepford Wives,' 'The Help' and 'The Truman Show', this novel devels into the multifaceted issues you would expect in a suburban town in 1959.
The plot is a solid whodunnit, but the characters drive the storyline. Empathy, sympathy, frustration and Ruby's grit and determination keep the reader invested in the outcomes. A few issues with how characters behave, react and remember kept this from being a five-star read for me, but certainly a worthy read.
Chauvinism, racism and children needing to be seen and not heard prevail throughout the story. The impact and effect of decisions surrounding the tenacious and fiercely driven Ruby, who is the true hero of this story, kept me interested to the end.
The ending felt a little too pretty and predictable but still satisfying. Definitely an author I will read again!
November 7, 2020
My pick of this weeks reading is the brilliantly evocative novel “The Long Long Afternoon” by Inga Vesper, an absolutely beautifully crafted story that captures the sense of a time past with pitch perfect clarity.
The power of this novel comes within the exploration of a woman’s place in a world where attitudes are still informed by racism and sexism- and whilst weaving a compelling and intriguing mystery also shows us how far we have come and how far we still have to go. The reality of the time is presented with razor sharp precision giving the whole story a thought provoking undertone that stays with you long after you turn the final page.
It is literary crime fiction that keeps the reader involved from first page to last and in characters Joyce and Ruby shows clearly the divide and the mutual understanding of two women far apart in the social structure.
The mystery element is clever and unpredictable, playing into the wider themes really well and overall The Long Long Afternoon is a novel that deserves a wide readership- therefore it comes highly recommended by me.
The power of this novel comes within the exploration of a woman’s place in a world where attitudes are still informed by racism and sexism- and whilst weaving a compelling and intriguing mystery also shows us how far we have come and how far we still have to go. The reality of the time is presented with razor sharp precision giving the whole story a thought provoking undertone that stays with you long after you turn the final page.
It is literary crime fiction that keeps the reader involved from first page to last and in characters Joyce and Ruby shows clearly the divide and the mutual understanding of two women far apart in the social structure.
The mystery element is clever and unpredictable, playing into the wider themes really well and overall The Long Long Afternoon is a novel that deserves a wide readership- therefore it comes highly recommended by me.
September 3, 2021
This was great historical fiction and a mystery combined. In a community of homes, just like in the Stepford wives, women stay at home, doped up on tranquillisers, maintaining the perfect home for the husbands who support them. But all is not as it seems on the surface when one such woman goes missing. I really enjoyed the dynamics between Ruby, the young black woman who cleans the house and a jaded detective trying to prove himself to his department. Ruby has ambition and wants to go to college- she’s bright and smart and helps to solve the case. In 1950s America we see the worst of racism and gender inequality and it is very well handled by the author. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
August 30, 2021
This was a very twisty book. Set in 1959 in California it tells the story of a housewife who gets murdered in her kitchen on a hot afternoon in the suburbs. That’s how this book starts but once the story gets underway there is more going on in the background then you first realise. This was a great read, a debut novel and I hope more to come from this talented new author.
January 1, 2021
Take a leafy suburb of California, wilting in the heat of 1959, add a few bored housewives; throw in a bright, articulate girl, and a stereotypical detective, finally sprinkle with a missing housewife, and you have the recipe for a detective thriller. It all sounded so promising, especially when the opening line is from Joyce, the missing housewife....
“Yesterday, I kissed my husband for the last time. Of course, he does not know this. Not yet. In fact, I have a hard time believing it myself........”
Joyce, young, attractive, married to but bored with Frank, has two beautiful little girls but yearns for something more. A talented, but thwarted, artist she strains at the confines of her marriage. Has she just walked away from it? How could she leave those kids? Is she dead? There was blood in the kitchen after all...
Ruby, the bright articulate girl is a Negro, obviously from the wrong side of town, is employed as “the help” by Joyce and her neighbour, Mrs Ingram. She yearns to go to college, is befriended by Joyce, treated as less than dirt by Mrs Ingram.
Meet Mick Blanke, the detective who did Something Wrong at his previous precinct out East and so was transferred out to the boonies of Santa Monica. Blanke doesn't follow leads, is frustrated by his boss (aren't we all) and relies too much on Ruby's astute observations and determination, which he then ignores because, after all, she's black and doesn't really count.
Although this novel is atmospheric and quite claustrophobic, it is very much plot driven with clues scattered about here and there, it lacks depth in the characters who are all flat and lacking in – well, character. The emphasis on Joyce's purchase of art materials seems irrelevant and I, too, would be bored by Frank who doesn't seem to do anything useful at all. Chief Murphy constantly berating Blanke for any number of reasons is just another stereotype. The dialogue is often stilted and cheesy, the writing itself is sprinkled with grammatical errors which really grated on me.
The novel, to me, seems to be a comment on past attitudes: black people are treated with contempt and have no place in “decent society”. Men go to work, women stay at home and to heck with any ambition they may have. If that is the reason behind this book, it works pretty well, but if it's a detective story it's well, it's a bit of a limp lettuce.
I trundled through it to the end....but I had to know if my theory about Joyce was right...I was, sort of.
My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC download.
“Yesterday, I kissed my husband for the last time. Of course, he does not know this. Not yet. In fact, I have a hard time believing it myself........”
Joyce, young, attractive, married to but bored with Frank, has two beautiful little girls but yearns for something more. A talented, but thwarted, artist she strains at the confines of her marriage. Has she just walked away from it? How could she leave those kids? Is she dead? There was blood in the kitchen after all...
Ruby, the bright articulate girl is a Negro, obviously from the wrong side of town, is employed as “the help” by Joyce and her neighbour, Mrs Ingram. She yearns to go to college, is befriended by Joyce, treated as less than dirt by Mrs Ingram.
Meet Mick Blanke, the detective who did Something Wrong at his previous precinct out East and so was transferred out to the boonies of Santa Monica. Blanke doesn't follow leads, is frustrated by his boss (aren't we all) and relies too much on Ruby's astute observations and determination, which he then ignores because, after all, she's black and doesn't really count.
Although this novel is atmospheric and quite claustrophobic, it is very much plot driven with clues scattered about here and there, it lacks depth in the characters who are all flat and lacking in – well, character. The emphasis on Joyce's purchase of art materials seems irrelevant and I, too, would be bored by Frank who doesn't seem to do anything useful at all. Chief Murphy constantly berating Blanke for any number of reasons is just another stereotype. The dialogue is often stilted and cheesy, the writing itself is sprinkled with grammatical errors which really grated on me.
The novel, to me, seems to be a comment on past attitudes: black people are treated with contempt and have no place in “decent society”. Men go to work, women stay at home and to heck with any ambition they may have. If that is the reason behind this book, it works pretty well, but if it's a detective story it's well, it's a bit of a limp lettuce.
I trundled through it to the end....but I had to know if my theory about Joyce was right...I was, sort of.
My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC download.
April 14, 2025
Oto historia w której występują idealne żony (jak że Stepford), mężczyźni robiacy karierę i czarni służący. W upalnym miasteczku pod LA znika kobieta, a sprawa nie wygląda na taką oczywistą. Nic nie wygląda na takie, jakie faktycznie jest. Z każdą stroną czuć ciężar i "lepkość" upału i panującej dusznej atmosfery. Niestety czyta się rownież trochę mozolnie.
February 16, 2021
Rewind back to a day in 1959 where, in Sunnylakes, California, the skies are blue and it’s another scorcher. At some point during that day, Joyce Haney, disappears from her home, leaving a bloodstain on her kitchen floor.
It’s up to Detective Mick Blanke to try and fit the pieces of this puzzle together. And it’s proving very hard to do, as in white middle class surburbia no one seems to know anything. Apart from the Haney’s ‘help’, Ruby, who becomes determined to help the only employer who actually treat her like a human being and with any respect.
A beautiful, evocative book which simmers with tension and unease. The author does a wonderful job of accurately portraying the 50s, I could almost see the Formica and the sun splashed walls. Some excellent characters (I loved Mick and his wonderfully radical approach, of the time, to both females and people of colour, he was a real trailblazer) and a gripping plot made this a standout debut novel for me.
It’s up to Detective Mick Blanke to try and fit the pieces of this puzzle together. And it’s proving very hard to do, as in white middle class surburbia no one seems to know anything. Apart from the Haney’s ‘help’, Ruby, who becomes determined to help the only employer who actually treat her like a human being and with any respect.
A beautiful, evocative book which simmers with tension and unease. The author does a wonderful job of accurately portraying the 50s, I could almost see the Formica and the sun splashed walls. Some excellent characters (I loved Mick and his wonderfully radical approach, of the time, to both females and people of colour, he was a real trailblazer) and a gripping plot made this a standout debut novel for me.
October 19, 2021
This was probably one of the best multi-cast audiobooks I've listened to. Quite often it's confusing who is speaking or you feel pulled away from the storyline you were just in, but here it was completely smooth and every shift perfectly executed. Vesper's story of the mysterious disappearance of Joyce Haney is told from the POV of a young, black woman who does housework at the Haney house, the detective who is on the case, and Joyce herself, in retrospect, as she tells us her thoughts and feelings leading up to the, for her, unknown culmination of her day.
A very impressive, atmospheric debut with a tight story and an interesting cast and a look at the homes and lives of a rich, suburbian neighborhood in California in the 50s, where husbands went to work at all hours and drank too much and wives cooked and had babies and got presciption meds to keep up appearances, and no one were actually happy.
A very impressive, atmospheric debut with a tight story and an interesting cast and a look at the homes and lives of a rich, suburbian neighborhood in California in the 50s, where husbands went to work at all hours and drank too much and wives cooked and had babies and got presciption meds to keep up appearances, and no one were actually happy.
December 1, 2023
Premier roman de cette Irlando-anglo-allemande très éclectique. Fort plaisante lecture. Une époque choisie avec précision: 1959, en Californie. Le Moyen-Age de la modernité. Les noirs: toujours une sous-classe, méprisée, exploitée, reléguée. Mais aussi, chez les nantis, exclusivement blancs, évidemment, une autre sous-classe: les femmes. Activités: des réunions stériles et hypocrites, les enfants et la cuisine, avec les appareils derniers cris, un monde aseptisé et étouffant, la femme sert de décoration pour son mari. Inga Vesper s'est bien documentée pour transposer son action dans le moment et l'endroit, ce qui fait de son roman policier en même temps une intéressante analyse sociologique.
La petite bonne noire éclate de volonté pétillante, malgré ses peurs. Son quasi binôme, dans les faits, un flic new-yorkais muté en Californie après une bévue, est pataud, raisonne de travers et additionne les gaffes. Mais c'est, dans le décor, le blanc le plus attachant, maladroit mais honnête.
L'histoire patine souvent, l'humour ajouté est naïf, dans des situations qui n'ont rien de marrant. Mais c'est un bon roman..
La petite bonne noire éclate de volonté pétillante, malgré ses peurs. Son quasi binôme, dans les faits, un flic new-yorkais muté en Californie après une bévue, est pataud, raisonne de travers et additionne les gaffes. Mais c'est, dans le décor, le blanc le plus attachant, maladroit mais honnête.
L'histoire patine souvent, l'humour ajouté est naïf, dans des situations qui n'ont rien de marrant. Mais c'est un bon roman..
December 18, 2020
The Long, Long Afternoon did not take a long, long time to read - rather it really was very interesting. I loved the time period that was chosen and the social issues that were touched upon within the story. I found myself practically biting my knuckles towards the end, desperately hoping the black characters wouldn't be killed, as it was even more common and dangerous in that time period and I had also come to genuinely care for one of them (no spoilers as to what does happen, you'll have to read the book to find out!). I'm not black but this book definitely gave me greater insight into the issues of systematic discrimination that was more blatant in those days.
As for the actual story, it was engaging, but unfortunately, it wasn't anything new for me. The time period and the issues touched on were unique, but the actual plot didn't stand out to me a great deal, and I feel like certain characters could have been more developed, and I would have liked to know more about the main character's back story. At one point specifically, I really felt like a certain character was doing things which were very convenient to get the plot going and to keep the mystery rolling, when all she had to do was tell a certain person whatever she knew. She would say 90% and then withhold the 10% - this was explained away at the end of the story as, essentially, because she just felt like withholding it. This is a mark of lazy story telling for me.
Overall, it was a good read, and I would recommend it for anyone who likes a good mystery/thriller.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As for the actual story, it was engaging, but unfortunately, it wasn't anything new for me. The time period and the issues touched on were unique, but the actual plot didn't stand out to me a great deal, and I feel like certain characters could have been more developed, and I would have liked to know more about the main character's back story. At one point specifically, I really felt like a certain character was doing things which were very convenient to get the plot going and to keep the mystery rolling, when all she had to do was tell a certain person whatever she knew. She would say 90% and then withhold the 10% - this was explained away at the end of the story as, essentially, because she just felt like withholding it. This is a mark of lazy story telling for me.
Overall, it was a good read, and I would recommend it for anyone who likes a good mystery/thriller.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2022
3,5⭐
No ha sido una mala lectura. Me ha tenido enganchada un par de días y con la intriga de conocer todos los detalles. Está narrado a tres voces, la de Mick, el detective, la de Ruby, la asistenta de color y la de la propia Joyce, la mujer desaparecida. Entre los tres, nos irán desentrañando la historia, al tiempo que nos cuentan la suya propia.
A su favor:
Es un libro entretenido, con buen ritmo, en el que entras desde el principio y se lee fácil.
La ambientación de la novela, en la segunda mitad de la década de los 50 del pasado siglo, retrata de maravilla tanto "las delicias" de ser ama de casa en esa época, como el estigma de no llegar a serlo.
Para ser un thriller, los tres personajes protagonistas no están mal desarrollados. Me ha gustado mucho el de Ruby. Tiene en su contra ser mujer y de raza negra en 1959. En medio del racismo imperante y una lucha por los derechos civiles, aún sin definir con claridad, ella busca su propio camino. Ni quiere que la encasillen, ni se conforma con las limitaciones impuestas a su raza y a las mujeres en general. Me gustaría reencontrarme con ella y el tándem que forma con Mick.
En su contra:
No muy pronto, pero sí más de lo deseable, se ve venir el quién y el porqué. Aun así, reconozco que seguí interesada. Quedaban flecos de la trama principal y subtramas de la vida de los protagonistas. Se mantenía en buena parte la intriga.
El final me gustó, está bien llevado y deja todo cerrado.
En conclusión, un thriller entretenido de fácil lectura que deja buen sabor de boca.
No ha sido una mala lectura. Me ha tenido enganchada un par de días y con la intriga de conocer todos los detalles. Está narrado a tres voces, la de Mick, el detective, la de Ruby, la asistenta de color y la de la propia Joyce, la mujer desaparecida. Entre los tres, nos irán desentrañando la historia, al tiempo que nos cuentan la suya propia.
A su favor:
Es un libro entretenido, con buen ritmo, en el que entras desde el principio y se lee fácil.
La ambientación de la novela, en la segunda mitad de la década de los 50 del pasado siglo, retrata de maravilla tanto "las delicias" de ser ama de casa en esa época, como el estigma de no llegar a serlo.
Para ser un thriller, los tres personajes protagonistas no están mal desarrollados. Me ha gustado mucho el de Ruby. Tiene en su contra ser mujer y de raza negra en 1959. En medio del racismo imperante y una lucha por los derechos civiles, aún sin definir con claridad, ella busca su propio camino. Ni quiere que la encasillen, ni se conforma con las limitaciones impuestas a su raza y a las mujeres en general. Me gustaría reencontrarme con ella y el tándem que forma con Mick.
En su contra:
No muy pronto, pero sí más de lo deseable, se ve venir el quién y el porqué. Aun así, reconozco que seguí interesada. Quedaban flecos de la trama principal y subtramas de la vida de los protagonistas. Se mantenía en buena parte la intriga.
El final me gustó, está bien llevado y deja todo cerrado.
En conclusión, un thriller entretenido de fácil lectura que deja buen sabor de boca.
February 11, 2023
Set in 1950s California, this intriguing story of drama and suspense, has as a background a missing woman and a bloodstained kitchen floor amongst an idyllic picture of an affluent suburb with so many subtexts and hiding its own secrets. When a young black woman is accused of a murder, overtones of racism kick in and a maverick detective needs her help.
A hugely enjoyable and atmospheric read with a tremendous sense of time and place.
A hugely enjoyable and atmospheric read with a tremendous sense of time and place.
July 24, 2023
Damn je m étais pas trompée ce livre est une petite pépite.
Enquêtes, trahisons, disparitions et rebondissements.
Tout est là pour passer un bon moment. Par contre, on met encore en avant le côté "amerique raciste" du roman alors qu'il aurait ete plus pertinent, selon moi, de parler de l'émancipation des femmes dans les annees 60.
Enquêtes, trahisons, disparitions et rebondissements.
Tout est là pour passer un bon moment. Par contre, on met encore en avant le côté "amerique raciste" du roman alors qu'il aurait ete plus pertinent, selon moi, de parler de l'émancipation des femmes dans les annees 60.
January 29, 2021
Sunnylakes isn’t all it’s cracked up to be - it’s full of secrets & pasts people have tried to leave behind. Wonderful writing & all the power for the female wannabe detective. It also made me long for sunnier climes! Loved it!
January 10, 2024
Pretty lame whodunnit. Unclear why the story is set in 1950s Los Angeles considering the societal and political issues of that time and place are dealt with only superficially. For the most part plot, storytelling devices, and characters are wooden and lifeless.
August 15, 2022
Het is 1959 en tijdens een zinderende zomerdag in Californië verdwijnt Joyce Haney uit haar huis. Ze laat twee doodsbange kinderen achter en een bloedvlek op de keukenvloer. De buren beginnen een grote zoekactie. Ruby Wright, de zwarte ‘hulp’ van de familie heeft wellicht de sleutel tot dit mysterie. Ze weet immers wat zich achter de gesteven gordijnen van deze keurige suburb afspeelt. Leugens, wantrouwen en vooroordelen staan centraal en er is maar één vonk nodig om deze hele ‘perfecte’ wereld in brand te steken…
‘Die lange, lange dagen’ begint met een hoofdstuk dat vanuit Joyce geschreven is. Vervolgens lees je vanuit Ruby, de hulp van de familie Haney. Ze is een zwart meisje en het wordt al gauw duidelijk dat er sprake is van racisme. Een onderwerp dat op de dag van vandaag nog steeds erg actueel is. Het derde personage waaruit je leest is Mick. Hij is inspecteur en wordt op de vermissingszaak gezet.
Het eerste wat mij opviel aan dit boek was de fijne schrijfstijl. Het leest ontzettend vlot en hierdoor vlieg je door het boek. De afwisseling in perspectieven is ook zeer prettig. Je leest telkens ook korte hoofdstukken vanuit Joyce en je gaat hierbij terug in de tijd. Zo wordt steeds duidelijker wat er voor haar vermissing heeft afgespeeld.
Tijdens het lezen vraag je je continu af waar Joyce opeens is gebleven. Er lag bloed op de keukenvloer, maar is ze misschien toch nog in leven? En wie zit er achter haar verdwijning? Je verdenkt verschillende mensen, die elk hun eigen motieven hebben en dat maakt dit verhaal erg interessant.
Vooral het begin vond ik heel boeiend en het mysterie wordt goed opgebouwd. Het wordt geen ontzettend spannende thriller, maar de sfeer is duister en onheilspellend. Er gebeuren tussendoor nog wat onverwachtse dingen en je vraagt je af hoe het verhaal zal eindigen. En natuurlijk of Joyce gevonden gaat worden.
Als je ongeveer driekwart van het boek hebt gelezen, krijg je een vermoeden hoe alles in elkaar steekt. Hierdoor viel het einde mij toch een heel klein beetje tegen, omdat het dan te voorspelbaar wordt. Desondanks heb ik enorm van dit verhaal genoten!
Beoordeling: 3,5 ⭐️
‘Die lange, lange dagen’ begint met een hoofdstuk dat vanuit Joyce geschreven is. Vervolgens lees je vanuit Ruby, de hulp van de familie Haney. Ze is een zwart meisje en het wordt al gauw duidelijk dat er sprake is van racisme. Een onderwerp dat op de dag van vandaag nog steeds erg actueel is. Het derde personage waaruit je leest is Mick. Hij is inspecteur en wordt op de vermissingszaak gezet.
Het eerste wat mij opviel aan dit boek was de fijne schrijfstijl. Het leest ontzettend vlot en hierdoor vlieg je door het boek. De afwisseling in perspectieven is ook zeer prettig. Je leest telkens ook korte hoofdstukken vanuit Joyce en je gaat hierbij terug in de tijd. Zo wordt steeds duidelijker wat er voor haar vermissing heeft afgespeeld.
Tijdens het lezen vraag je je continu af waar Joyce opeens is gebleven. Er lag bloed op de keukenvloer, maar is ze misschien toch nog in leven? En wie zit er achter haar verdwijning? Je verdenkt verschillende mensen, die elk hun eigen motieven hebben en dat maakt dit verhaal erg interessant.
Vooral het begin vond ik heel boeiend en het mysterie wordt goed opgebouwd. Het wordt geen ontzettend spannende thriller, maar de sfeer is duister en onheilspellend. Er gebeuren tussendoor nog wat onverwachtse dingen en je vraagt je af hoe het verhaal zal eindigen. En natuurlijk of Joyce gevonden gaat worden.
Als je ongeveer driekwart van het boek hebt gelezen, krijg je een vermoeden hoe alles in elkaar steekt. Hierdoor viel het einde mij toch een heel klein beetje tegen, omdat het dan te voorspelbaar wordt. Desondanks heb ik enorm van dit verhaal genoten!
Beoordeling: 3,5 ⭐️
February 3, 2021
Visit the location of the novel here
Enjoy a long long afternoon in Sunnylakes, California
First of all, travelling to sunny California in the 1950s on a wintery January day was a treat in itself . The cover drew me as I love this kind of décor. A time gone by, old fashioned yet quirky, a setting that immediately shows you the culture and societal expectations of the time. What’s not to like?
The scene setting is immediate and strong. Sunnylakes, California might be fictional but immediately I could recognise the lazy, perfect villages of the golden state. Apt location as when you read on, the glitz quickly comes off that gold and you are left with what really lies beneath.
What lies beneath is a graphic and unsettling account of racial issues, the role of women and society’s expectations of the time. A white housewife goes missing and a young black woman ruby is caught up in it all. Detective Mick is on the case and interviews her and others. The POVs of these characters was a powerful and brilliant tool to showcase the various viewpoints of the time. Joyce’s voice was particularly interesting for reasons you have to discover for yourself.
Primarily, this is a novel about many issues. Judging others, helping your fellow human, racial divisions and so much more. For example, I really liked Ruby and what she was about.
Ironically, given the author’s name, I fancied myself getting on a vesper and heading over to California to read this book. The author created and evoked time and place with ease.
In the end, it was all very Stepford Wives with a bit of The Help thrown in. A great read.
January 29, 2021
What a fantastic, rollercoaster crime thriller read! I am so pleased I received this as an ARC from Readers First.
First of all, the book itself is stunning! Quirky vibrant dust jacket and a vivid red patterned inside, this hardback was a pleasure to hold.
Inga Vesper has written an incredibly riveting and pace driven debut novel. It is easy to lose the hours devouring the chapters which feature each character, as the disappearance of Joyce is puzzled out. Set in the 1950s in American Dream suburbia, the story revolves around the dark secrets of the housewife, feminism, racism and art. There are moments of poignancy, and the last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat as the twist is revealed.
Detective Mike Blanke is the man on the case, and with the aid of Ruby, the "help" he goes against traditional instinct to ensure the right person is brought to justice. This book is populated with interesting and unique characters and was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I will be looking up more or Inga Vesper's books in future!
First of all, the book itself is stunning! Quirky vibrant dust jacket and a vivid red patterned inside, this hardback was a pleasure to hold.
Inga Vesper has written an incredibly riveting and pace driven debut novel. It is easy to lose the hours devouring the chapters which feature each character, as the disappearance of Joyce is puzzled out. Set in the 1950s in American Dream suburbia, the story revolves around the dark secrets of the housewife, feminism, racism and art. There are moments of poignancy, and the last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat as the twist is revealed.
Detective Mike Blanke is the man on the case, and with the aid of Ruby, the "help" he goes against traditional instinct to ensure the right person is brought to justice. This book is populated with interesting and unique characters and was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I will be looking up more or Inga Vesper's books in future!
February 2, 2021
“Yesterday, I kissed my husband for the last time."
Sunnylakes, Santa Monica - a town whose radiant name and shimmering skies belies the truth. Look a little closer and you will see what the residents try to hide; a place crawling with deep, dark secrets. Secrets that are slowly unveiled after Joyce Haney disappears from her home in the town one sunny August afternoon leaving behind a bloodstained kitchen and two frightened little girls.
Wow. Just, wow! I can’t believe this mesmerising book is a debut. Inga Vesper is a talented wordsmith who has woven this layered, intricate plot into a work of art. The prose is witty and poetic, transporting me to 50s suburbia and its sexism, misogyny, and racism. The author also delves deeply into the historical side of the era, examining topics such as the aforementioned sexism and racism, as well as society’s view of women’s roles, civil rights, domestic abuse and mental health. It is a book that would make a perfect film or TV series and the imagery is so vivid that I felt like I could see the bright blue California skies, feel the sun beating down and the sweat forming at every pore. It was so vivid I felt like I was watching it on the screen in front of me; a mash-up of Mad Men and Perry Mason.
"The world stops. Her breath sticks in her throat. A cocoon rises up around her, drowning out all sound. She can do nothing but stare at what is in her hands. So small and delicate and terrible."
Stepford wives and fake smiles is what springs to mind when I think of the women of Sunnylake. And it is soon clear that Joyce Hanley didn’t quite fit the mould. We get to know Joyce through the eyes of her husband, friends and maid and from the woman herself, in glimpses of her that fateful August day. She is an enigma. A presence that lingers on every page. But it’s a chorus of many voices who tell this story, and the author has created a wonderful melody for us. We have Frank, Joyce’s husband who is your typical fifties man. Nancy Ingram, Joyce’s neighbour and best friend. Mick, the detective searching for Joyce. And Ruby, the Hanley’s maid who first raises the alarm about Joyce’s disappearance. Each character, and all of the supporting cast, are richly drawn and compelling, but it was Ruby and Mick I enjoyed reading most of all.
Atmospheric, beguiling, lush, claustrophobic and evocative, The Long, Long Afternoon is a decadent piece of classic noir. Don’t miss this breathtaking debut from an exciting new author who should be on everyone’s reading list.
Sunnylakes, Santa Monica - a town whose radiant name and shimmering skies belies the truth. Look a little closer and you will see what the residents try to hide; a place crawling with deep, dark secrets. Secrets that are slowly unveiled after Joyce Haney disappears from her home in the town one sunny August afternoon leaving behind a bloodstained kitchen and two frightened little girls.
Wow. Just, wow! I can’t believe this mesmerising book is a debut. Inga Vesper is a talented wordsmith who has woven this layered, intricate plot into a work of art. The prose is witty and poetic, transporting me to 50s suburbia and its sexism, misogyny, and racism. The author also delves deeply into the historical side of the era, examining topics such as the aforementioned sexism and racism, as well as society’s view of women’s roles, civil rights, domestic abuse and mental health. It is a book that would make a perfect film or TV series and the imagery is so vivid that I felt like I could see the bright blue California skies, feel the sun beating down and the sweat forming at every pore. It was so vivid I felt like I was watching it on the screen in front of me; a mash-up of Mad Men and Perry Mason.
"The world stops. Her breath sticks in her throat. A cocoon rises up around her, drowning out all sound. She can do nothing but stare at what is in her hands. So small and delicate and terrible."
Stepford wives and fake smiles is what springs to mind when I think of the women of Sunnylake. And it is soon clear that Joyce Hanley didn’t quite fit the mould. We get to know Joyce through the eyes of her husband, friends and maid and from the woman herself, in glimpses of her that fateful August day. She is an enigma. A presence that lingers on every page. But it’s a chorus of many voices who tell this story, and the author has created a wonderful melody for us. We have Frank, Joyce’s husband who is your typical fifties man. Nancy Ingram, Joyce’s neighbour and best friend. Mick, the detective searching for Joyce. And Ruby, the Hanley’s maid who first raises the alarm about Joyce’s disappearance. Each character, and all of the supporting cast, are richly drawn and compelling, but it was Ruby and Mick I enjoyed reading most of all.
Atmospheric, beguiling, lush, claustrophobic and evocative, The Long, Long Afternoon is a decadent piece of classic noir. Don’t miss this breathtaking debut from an exciting new author who should be on everyone’s reading list.
December 31, 2020
Summer of 1959, and the well-trimmed lawns of Sunnylakes wilt under California sun...
At some point during the long, long afternoon, Joyce Haney , a seemingly happy housewife and mother, vanishes, leaving her two children behind and a bloodstain on the kitchen floor...
This multifaceted story takes you behind the glamour of 1950’s life in a sun-drenched suburb deep in California but it’s one tale that is far from sunshine and freshly baked cookies...
You follow Joyce, a housewife who seems to have it all: two children, a loving husband and a gorgeous home.. but is it a life she chooses or perhaps it is more of a gilded cage. Tied down to her home life and husband drains Joyce and she feels trapped....
Meanwhile, when Ruby, the help arrives for her usual shift to earn her meagre wages, she finds both children alone in the house and when a pool of blood is found on the kitchen floor with no explanation, what unfolds will see Ruby face further prejudice and assumptions from both the nosy neighbours and the local police.
Enter Mick, the detective put on the case to uncover just what has happened to Joyce but as he dives deeper into this world.
But just how deep into this rabbit hole is he willing to go and what dark secrets will he unearth?
Exactly where has Joyce gone? Has she left by her own accord or is there someone else who could have been involved?
The town is awash with whispers and hushed gossip of a marriage and home life that perhaps was far from perfect..
Sharp, poignant, and bold with an underlying sense of suspense, this story peals back the shiny veneer to show a world full of women who are silenced, diminishing, and underestimated, but always fighting.
At some point during the long, long afternoon, Joyce Haney , a seemingly happy housewife and mother, vanishes, leaving her two children behind and a bloodstain on the kitchen floor...
This multifaceted story takes you behind the glamour of 1950’s life in a sun-drenched suburb deep in California but it’s one tale that is far from sunshine and freshly baked cookies...
You follow Joyce, a housewife who seems to have it all: two children, a loving husband and a gorgeous home.. but is it a life she chooses or perhaps it is more of a gilded cage. Tied down to her home life and husband drains Joyce and she feels trapped....
Meanwhile, when Ruby, the help arrives for her usual shift to earn her meagre wages, she finds both children alone in the house and when a pool of blood is found on the kitchen floor with no explanation, what unfolds will see Ruby face further prejudice and assumptions from both the nosy neighbours and the local police.
Enter Mick, the detective put on the case to uncover just what has happened to Joyce but as he dives deeper into this world.
But just how deep into this rabbit hole is he willing to go and what dark secrets will he unearth?
Exactly where has Joyce gone? Has she left by her own accord or is there someone else who could have been involved?
The town is awash with whispers and hushed gossip of a marriage and home life that perhaps was far from perfect..
Sharp, poignant, and bold with an underlying sense of suspense, this story peals back the shiny veneer to show a world full of women who are silenced, diminishing, and underestimated, but always fighting.
February 1, 2021
thank you to netgalley & the publishers for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review
elevator pitch: When a housewife goes missing, the family maid, Ruby, and a new to town detective find themselves wrapped up in a mystery more complicated than they were counting on.
review: What a mixed bag! This was a difficult read, in the sense the racism and misogyny were so prevalent and inescapable that it was often upsetting. That's no mark against the book though, as it is undoubtedly accurate to the time period (and lets be honest, only marginally different from today). The biggest issue I had is with the character of Mick. In short, I hate him and hated reading from his perspective. Which again, is likely accurate to many men of the time but . Pretty much every man is misogynistic in this tale, it's just a sliding scale of how bad it is. Ruby was a great character though, and I wouldn't have minded if it was 100% in her perspective.
Another reason I'm not rating higher than 3 stars is the conclusion. It was pretty obvious the whole time what was going to happen, so the big reveals weren't all that shocking. And the actual conclusion was messily written and abrupt.
elevator pitch: When a housewife goes missing, the family maid, Ruby, and a new to town detective find themselves wrapped up in a mystery more complicated than they were counting on.
review: What a mixed bag! This was a difficult read, in the sense the racism and misogyny were so prevalent and inescapable that it was often upsetting. That's no mark against the book though, as it is undoubtedly accurate to the time period (and lets be honest, only marginally different from today). The biggest issue I had is with the character of Mick. In short, I hate him and hated reading from his perspective. Which again, is likely accurate to many men of the time but . Pretty much every man is misogynistic in this tale, it's just a sliding scale of how bad it is. Ruby was a great character though, and I wouldn't have minded if it was 100% in her perspective.
Another reason I'm not rating higher than 3 stars is the conclusion. It was pretty obvious the whole time what was going to happen, so the big reveals weren't all that shocking. And the actual conclusion was messily written and abrupt.
January 26, 2021
Last month I was approved to read The Long Long Afternoon by Inga Vesper by Netgalley It was one where the cover caught my eye, yes I know, we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but guess what, I sometimes do! 😂 and I’m so glad this one stood out and caught my eye as I loved it!
Set in 1950’s California, we see the disappearance of Joyce, a loving mother and housewife, vanished from her home leaving her daughters and a pile of blood in the kitchen. When her maid, Ruby, discovers the scene, she is immediately arrested, until Detective Mick Blanke sees no reason why she should’ve been arrested and that the main reason the cops did so was because of the colour of her skin. This book follows Joyce, Ruby and Mick’s perspectives on this mysterious case.
This book had me. From the start I had an idea of where this was going to go, adamant that I was right, but Vesper three in twists and turns that just kept proving me wrong. I loved the triple narrative, it made it a fast paced read and I just needed to know more from each character. This book doesn’t just focus on the disappearance on Joyce, it also focuses on race and the disgusting way black peoples were treated back in 1950’s America, and how hard it was for them to get their voices heard.
It was such an interesting read that had me hooked from start to finish! The Long Long Afternoon is out on 4th Feb and I’ll be recommending to everyone! 💛
Set in 1950’s California, we see the disappearance of Joyce, a loving mother and housewife, vanished from her home leaving her daughters and a pile of blood in the kitchen. When her maid, Ruby, discovers the scene, she is immediately arrested, until Detective Mick Blanke sees no reason why she should’ve been arrested and that the main reason the cops did so was because of the colour of her skin. This book follows Joyce, Ruby and Mick’s perspectives on this mysterious case.
This book had me. From the start I had an idea of where this was going to go, adamant that I was right, but Vesper three in twists and turns that just kept proving me wrong. I loved the triple narrative, it made it a fast paced read and I just needed to know more from each character. This book doesn’t just focus on the disappearance on Joyce, it also focuses on race and the disgusting way black peoples were treated back in 1950’s America, and how hard it was for them to get their voices heard.
It was such an interesting read that had me hooked from start to finish! The Long Long Afternoon is out on 4th Feb and I’ll be recommending to everyone! 💛
February 7, 2021
Joyce Haney a seemingly happy housewife disappears one afternoon leaving behind her two children and a pool of blood in the kitchen. The mystery sets the small suburban town alight with fingers immediately pointing to Joyce's hired help Ruby.
This is set in the 1950s and I loved the gossipy housewife vibe. The plot was a good whodunnit it storyline and kept you hooked.
I also enjoyed how this really highlighted the issues with racism at the time and how this effects Ruby's whole life. Ruby really was the true hero of this story and felt she deserved better throughout.
This would have been a four star read for me but I felt the ending was a little bit predictable and wrapped up too quickly.
That being said I would definitely read more from this author, the writing was great!
Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Books for providing me with a copy to review.
This is set in the 1950s and I loved the gossipy housewife vibe. The plot was a good whodunnit it storyline and kept you hooked.
I also enjoyed how this really highlighted the issues with racism at the time and how this effects Ruby's whole life. Ruby really was the true hero of this story and felt she deserved better throughout.
This would have been a four star read for me but I felt the ending was a little bit predictable and wrapped up too quickly.
That being said I would definitely read more from this author, the writing was great!
Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Books for providing me with a copy to review.
December 19, 2020
Santa Monica, summer 1959 and Ruby Wright, ‘the Negroe help’ for women living in Sunnylakes is running behind schedule. Leaving Nancy Ingram’s home for number 47 Roseview Drive where Frank and Joyce Haney reside, Ruby arrives with an immediate sense that all is not well. Finding Barbara outside, she is filled with dread, hearing the cries of baby Lily whose mounting distress hints of something very very wrong. Upon entering the house and comforting the baby, Ruby questions the whereabouts of Joyce, unable and unwilling to believe the woman has simply abandoned her children. However the drama further unfolds when confronting the scene in the blood splattered kitchen, painting a picture of the possible horror to come. With news spreading fast of their neighbours disappearance, the women of Sunnylakes begin the initial search for the missing woman prior to the police investigation in which Ruby plays an integral role.
Appearances can be so deceptive and that’s exactly what’s going on behind closed doors in the Californian enclave that is Sunnylakes. These hard working husbands and stay at home mothers living in their beautiful homes with well manicured lawns are supposedly living the American Dream. Except it’s all a facade in which the men rule the women’s lives, and the women resort to self medication to cope with the monotony of keeping house and looking after the children, waiting for the menfolk to arrive home from their oh so important meetings. Perhaps it’s only the support and friendship of the neighbours and the meetings of the Women’s improvement committee that help keep them sane but I had no trouble conjuring up visions of the likes of Joyce Haney as plastic dummies, robotically going through the motions of everyday life, their hearts and minds someplace far away from their real existence. I totally agree with the synopsis that lures the reader in, foretelling of a storyline that promises to be vivid and atmospheric. The author has not only captured images of these women trapped in this version of hell but also how the heat of these Santa Monica days saps their energy and their spirit, where the simplest of chores can require monumental effort. Yet ironically underneath this atmosphere of perfect sizzling summer days lies an atmosphere that is far more chilling. For behind this white middle class facade, secrets, lies, jealousies and prejudice abound with Ruby Wright (and eventually Mick Blanke) stepping into the lion’s den day after day. Are any of these women content with their lives or do they hanker after something or maybe someone else entirely? Are they willing to submerge their hopes and dreams beneath a lifetime of motherhood and domesticity or will they listen to their inner voices and/or the leader of the improvement committee and break free? These are just some of the questions puzzling me as I sank into the depths of this storyline.
Weaving together a commentary on the prejudices of the day, through Ruby’s eyes, as well as a crime element, this storyline unites Joyce Haney and Ruby Wright beyond the role of employer and employee. The creation of detective Mick Blanke whose past hints of a character who had been less than a wonderful husband and police officer adds yet another layer to the storytelling in which every individual character flaw is scrutinised and the majority are found wanting. There is a laid back vibe to the narrative in which the detective is continually hampered by the heat and plenty of dead ends, that is until Ruby comes to his assistance, an unlikely partner if ever there was one owing to the colour of her skin. However who better to see beyond the fixed smiles and the glamorous clothes of these women than ‘the help’? Someone who may be banned from wearing shoes in the house or touching the children but who has eyes and ears to understand the kind of relationships these women really have with their husbands and children?
There’s no escaping from the thought that The Long Long Afternoon is reminiscent of the Stepford Wives and The Help, due to the treatment of the likes of Ruby Wright and the falseness of these women’s lives. Having read and enjoyed The Help many years ago, it came as no surprise to me that Ruby,or Whoobie as Barbara affectionately calls her, is my favourite character. Despite the way the majority of the Sunnylakes residents and the rest of society treat ‘the help’ she remains a woman of integrity, a woman who clearly loves little Barbara and baby Lily, mindful of the fact Joyce Haney is the only white woman who has ever treated her remotely like a real person. So I could understand Ruby’s determination to assist the detective in his investigation even though it threatens to cost her her freedom and happiness in her personal life. I finished this novel really wanting to know what happens to this feisty young woman after events of this summer of 1959 have concluded.
As for the crime aspect of this novel, I always had an inkling regarding who was responsible for Joyce Haney’s disappearance, although the author makes a concerted effort to pull the wool over her readers eyes and I was never 100% sure. There are plenty of avenues to explore, potential suspects and theories to contemplate as Mick and Ruby endeavour to solve this mystery, which is what you’d be hoping for. Plus I appreciated this more literary approach to crime writing, enjoying the disparity between the lives on show and the actual truth, wondering how the author would choose to bring a full stop to this suburban mystery. Right up until the ending which disappointed me I’d been enjoying this debut immensely hence my rating of 4 stars but overall this is an impressive debut that I highly recommend. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.
Appearances can be so deceptive and that’s exactly what’s going on behind closed doors in the Californian enclave that is Sunnylakes. These hard working husbands and stay at home mothers living in their beautiful homes with well manicured lawns are supposedly living the American Dream. Except it’s all a facade in which the men rule the women’s lives, and the women resort to self medication to cope with the monotony of keeping house and looking after the children, waiting for the menfolk to arrive home from their oh so important meetings. Perhaps it’s only the support and friendship of the neighbours and the meetings of the Women’s improvement committee that help keep them sane but I had no trouble conjuring up visions of the likes of Joyce Haney as plastic dummies, robotically going through the motions of everyday life, their hearts and minds someplace far away from their real existence. I totally agree with the synopsis that lures the reader in, foretelling of a storyline that promises to be vivid and atmospheric. The author has not only captured images of these women trapped in this version of hell but also how the heat of these Santa Monica days saps their energy and their spirit, where the simplest of chores can require monumental effort. Yet ironically underneath this atmosphere of perfect sizzling summer days lies an atmosphere that is far more chilling. For behind this white middle class facade, secrets, lies, jealousies and prejudice abound with Ruby Wright (and eventually Mick Blanke) stepping into the lion’s den day after day. Are any of these women content with their lives or do they hanker after something or maybe someone else entirely? Are they willing to submerge their hopes and dreams beneath a lifetime of motherhood and domesticity or will they listen to their inner voices and/or the leader of the improvement committee and break free? These are just some of the questions puzzling me as I sank into the depths of this storyline.
Weaving together a commentary on the prejudices of the day, through Ruby’s eyes, as well as a crime element, this storyline unites Joyce Haney and Ruby Wright beyond the role of employer and employee. The creation of detective Mick Blanke whose past hints of a character who had been less than a wonderful husband and police officer adds yet another layer to the storytelling in which every individual character flaw is scrutinised and the majority are found wanting. There is a laid back vibe to the narrative in which the detective is continually hampered by the heat and plenty of dead ends, that is until Ruby comes to his assistance, an unlikely partner if ever there was one owing to the colour of her skin. However who better to see beyond the fixed smiles and the glamorous clothes of these women than ‘the help’? Someone who may be banned from wearing shoes in the house or touching the children but who has eyes and ears to understand the kind of relationships these women really have with their husbands and children?
There’s no escaping from the thought that The Long Long Afternoon is reminiscent of the Stepford Wives and The Help, due to the treatment of the likes of Ruby Wright and the falseness of these women’s lives. Having read and enjoyed The Help many years ago, it came as no surprise to me that Ruby,or Whoobie as Barbara affectionately calls her, is my favourite character. Despite the way the majority of the Sunnylakes residents and the rest of society treat ‘the help’ she remains a woman of integrity, a woman who clearly loves little Barbara and baby Lily, mindful of the fact Joyce Haney is the only white woman who has ever treated her remotely like a real person. So I could understand Ruby’s determination to assist the detective in his investigation even though it threatens to cost her her freedom and happiness in her personal life. I finished this novel really wanting to know what happens to this feisty young woman after events of this summer of 1959 have concluded.
As for the crime aspect of this novel, I always had an inkling regarding who was responsible for Joyce Haney’s disappearance, although the author makes a concerted effort to pull the wool over her readers eyes and I was never 100% sure. There are plenty of avenues to explore, potential suspects and theories to contemplate as Mick and Ruby endeavour to solve this mystery, which is what you’d be hoping for. Plus I appreciated this more literary approach to crime writing, enjoying the disparity between the lives on show and the actual truth, wondering how the author would choose to bring a full stop to this suburban mystery. Right up until the ending which disappointed me I’d been enjoying this debut immensely hence my rating of 4 stars but overall this is an impressive debut that I highly recommend. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.
August 14, 2022
Utspelar sig i augusti. Det ökar läschanserna väsentligt. Det och det faktum att jag lade den i "22 böcker från tbr:en år '22-utmaningshögen” tidigare i år. Gillar, so far. Det finns alltid mycket att hämta där i suburbia.
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Läste på det nya sättet, så som jag läst flera ggr sedan John Cooper Clarke; ljudbok fast med pappersbok till hands. Förlorade mig lite i dramats vändningar mot slutet, men hade hela tiden en tydlig bild av miljön och samhällskontexten.
En annan detalj jag gillar är titeln, bara The Long Afternoon hade ju varit tämligen intetsägande, The Long, Long Afternoon, däremot... Om jag minns rätt var det ändå omslaget som fångade min uppmärksamhet där på Sheen Bookshop.
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Läste på det nya sättet, så som jag läst flera ggr sedan John Cooper Clarke; ljudbok fast med pappersbok till hands. Förlorade mig lite i dramats vändningar mot slutet, men hade hela tiden en tydlig bild av miljön och samhällskontexten.
En annan detalj jag gillar är titeln, bara The Long Afternoon hade ju varit tämligen intetsägande, The Long, Long Afternoon, däremot... Om jag minns rätt var det ändå omslaget som fångade min uppmärksamhet där på Sheen Bookshop.
December 7, 2023
4.5 ⭐
Debut. Great domestic/historical crime novel.
Written well. Lovely Cover.
A really enjoyable read that keeps you hooked.
Would recommend 💕
Debut. Great domestic/historical crime novel.
Written well. Lovely Cover.
A really enjoyable read that keeps you hooked.
Would recommend 💕
August 13, 2023
I really enjoyed this mystery set in the late 50's - the characters were great and it was a definite page turner.
January 30, 2021
This atmospheric debut novel is both an excellent piece of crime fiction and a stunning portrayal of the strict social codes and attitudes of the 1950s with regards to both gender and race. Set amongst the white picket fences of Sunnylakes, a well-heeled suburb of Santa Monica which seems to epitomise the American dream, the mysterious disappearance of housewife and mother, Joyce Haney, strikes at the heart of the settled community. Populated by white middle classes and a place where men go out to work and women either care for children or are in the kitchen, behind the perfect facade is many an oppressed housewife. Numbed into submission and often medicated to cope with the monotony of a life dictated by their menfolk attitudes to women are only marginally less hostile than attitudes to ethnic minorities, specifically the Negro ‘help’ that clean their homes.
It is Ruby Wright, the young black maid from South Central who is the first to discover the absence of Joyce Haney when she turns up to clean her home and finds her two children alone and the kitchen covered in blood. Ruby is arrested at the scene, purely on the basis of her colour, and the case is assigned to Detective Mick Blanke, newly transferred to the suburbs and broiling in the oppressive heat of August 1959. With Joyce’s husband, Frank, at a conference and vampish neighbour and close friend, Mrs Ingram, unable to shed any light on her disappearance, Blanke finds himself seeking an ‘in’ with the ladies of the Sunnylakes Women’s Improvement Committee, run by shrewd Mrs Genevieve Crane. With his boss breathing down his neck for a result and unable to crack the Sunnylakes veneer, Blanke proffers up the prospect of the hefty reward on offer to Ruby in exchange for crucial information. Compelled by her fondness for Joyce and a shot at enough money to finance college, Ruby makes the perfect detective due to the fact that the folks of Sunnylakes treat the ‘help’ with disdain and do their best to avoid casting eyes on them. A three way narrative follows with the perspective of both Detective Mick Blanke and Ruby Wright in the days after the disappearance of Joyce, and the thoughts and actions of a flighty Joyce in the hours leading up to her vanishing.
The period setting, sense of place and attitudes are terrifically conveyed and give the novel a wonderfully atmospheric feel and the rigid rules and attitudes of the era adds a clever subtext to the disappearance of Joyce. The characterisation of Ruby, dismissively referred to as ‘the help’ by all but Joyce is captivating. Wary of the cops and the white middle classes she works for, and reticent to bring trouble to her door, she has aspirations to attend college and eventually to teach. Feisty enough that she is no pushover and clever enough to read between the lines, for me Ruby was the standout of the novel and I was vying for her all the way. It takes Ruby to make apparent to a cop more used to the mean streets of Brooklyn like Detective Blanke that it isn’t all picture perfect behind the idyllic exterior on show. Despite his open-minded and liberal attitude, Detective Blanke proved disappointingly colourless and lacking in nous, making him the weak link in his informal partnership with savvy Ruby. The mystery itself is easy to follow and although not particularly pacy the social commentary throughout more than makes up for this.
It is Ruby Wright, the young black maid from South Central who is the first to discover the absence of Joyce Haney when she turns up to clean her home and finds her two children alone and the kitchen covered in blood. Ruby is arrested at the scene, purely on the basis of her colour, and the case is assigned to Detective Mick Blanke, newly transferred to the suburbs and broiling in the oppressive heat of August 1959. With Joyce’s husband, Frank, at a conference and vampish neighbour and close friend, Mrs Ingram, unable to shed any light on her disappearance, Blanke finds himself seeking an ‘in’ with the ladies of the Sunnylakes Women’s Improvement Committee, run by shrewd Mrs Genevieve Crane. With his boss breathing down his neck for a result and unable to crack the Sunnylakes veneer, Blanke proffers up the prospect of the hefty reward on offer to Ruby in exchange for crucial information. Compelled by her fondness for Joyce and a shot at enough money to finance college, Ruby makes the perfect detective due to the fact that the folks of Sunnylakes treat the ‘help’ with disdain and do their best to avoid casting eyes on them. A three way narrative follows with the perspective of both Detective Mick Blanke and Ruby Wright in the days after the disappearance of Joyce, and the thoughts and actions of a flighty Joyce in the hours leading up to her vanishing.
The period setting, sense of place and attitudes are terrifically conveyed and give the novel a wonderfully atmospheric feel and the rigid rules and attitudes of the era adds a clever subtext to the disappearance of Joyce. The characterisation of Ruby, dismissively referred to as ‘the help’ by all but Joyce is captivating. Wary of the cops and the white middle classes she works for, and reticent to bring trouble to her door, she has aspirations to attend college and eventually to teach. Feisty enough that she is no pushover and clever enough to read between the lines, for me Ruby was the standout of the novel and I was vying for her all the way. It takes Ruby to make apparent to a cop more used to the mean streets of Brooklyn like Detective Blanke that it isn’t all picture perfect behind the idyllic exterior on show. Despite his open-minded and liberal attitude, Detective Blanke proved disappointingly colourless and lacking in nous, making him the weak link in his informal partnership with savvy Ruby. The mystery itself is easy to follow and although not particularly pacy the social commentary throughout more than makes up for this.
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