Becca

by Kath Middleton

Laura has carried her baby for almost seven months before she loses her. The tragedy prompts different responses from Laura and her husband Adam. He is willing to move on and try again but she feels somehow that their daughter, Rebecca, still exists and must not simply be replaced.

Over time, it becomes clear to Laura that Becca does still exist, and it is not long before she is sharing her most intimate thoughts with the woman she believes her daughter would have become.

Laura’s marriage to Adam collapses, and when Adam remarries, Laura is consumed by regret and jealousy. And when she hears of his new wife’s pregnancy, it is more than she can bear. She and Becca are convinced she must act.

253 pages, Paperback

Published February 21, 2021

About the author

Kath Middleton began her writing with drabbles (100 words stories) and contributed a number to Jonathan Hill’s second drabble collection. It wasn’t long before she moved up a size to contribute short stories to anthologies. Shortly afterwards, she progressed to writing longer pieces and her first solo work, Ravenfold, was published to much acclaim. This was followed by the novella, Message in a Bottle. Several more books are in the pipeline and her first novel, Top Banana, was published in March 2015. In March 2016 she and Jonathan Hill published Is it Her - two novellas inspired by a painting. Kath likes to put her characters in difficult situations and watch them work their way out. She believes in the indomitable nature of the human spirit (and chickens).

Kath is retired. She graduated in geology and has a certificate in archaeology. When she's in a hole, she doesn't stop digging.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kath-M...

Reviews

[Lexie Conyngham · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I began to read this book, I was often frustrated by the characters and their difficulties in recognising what was happening in their lives, much as I felt sorry for them. By halfway I’d got past the feeling of ‘Heavens, this is sad’ and reached an excited ‘Oh, this might turn out all right – but how?’ but still with a sense of dread because I know a Kath Middleton book can go almost anywhere! I’ll not say whether or not it does, and whether or not my frustrations were allayed. This is not an easy read by any means, but one that leaves you with plenty to think about and characters that live on in your head. It really played with the emotions. Another excellent read from Middleton.

[Mark Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Kath Middleton's books are very different. Becca is no exception. An intense read that tells a good story whilst at the same time highlighting a very real and serious medical condition. The story was told, and the characters realised, with a sense of real feeling. The writer got inside the characters and the story unfolded in a very natural, organic way. I felt this story, once it was set up, could have gone in many directions, and Kath Middleton did a great job of keeping me in suspense until late on in the book.

[Livia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura and Adam are looking forward to being parents, the nursery is ready ..there are only two months to go before the arrival of their precious baby ..When Laura loses her baby she and Adam are devastated. As Adam begins to heal he tries everything to help Laura, saying they can try again..but Laura the woman he loves with every fibre of his being has drifted and won't let anyone in ...except Becca .Five years later Laura is in her dream job working in a library, she has renewed old friendships, a nice man is interested in her ,and Adam is getting married .It's a little while after this that fate is about to change everything for Laura, when Laura is in an incident that will change her world ..Because Laura is a woman with no visible symptoms, no fever, no cuts and bruises ..She is a woman with just a longing for something she is unable to explain...My fourth read by Kath Middleton..A story that makes you realise that not everything is what it seems ..That sometimes things can cut so deep .. leaving invisible scars...

[Will Templeton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is there life after death? Especially when that life/death never really happened?
Non-mum Laura's life begins to crumble around her, and the only voice that seems to speak any words of encouragement is the one voice she can't possibly be hearing.
Kath Middleton tackles a harrowing subject with astounding sensitivity, bringing a note of reason to situations where you'll just want to slap everyone in the room. In turns disturbing and heartwarming, this is one you won't want to miss.

[Steve Munoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Kath Middleton’s Becca an unexpected tragedy upends a woman’s life, pushing her down the twisting rabbit hole of loss. This is an intense and insightful book, beautifully written, which takes the reader on the character Laura’s journey of trying to navigate her changed life, not always easy and at times cringe making, but always gripping. Middleton is a very, very good story teller, creating an air of suspense with wonderfully realized characters to reveal the heartbreaking scope and power of true loss. I gave the book a 5.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kath is a master of word weaving. The theme of this book is a sensitive one and the story is told with great compassion and empathy. Compulsive reading, I loved it.

[Joyce Rigg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Watching a strong person slowly fall apart because they believe they are not in need of help was believable, sadly. At first I doubted that I would enjoy it because of the subject but I. Had trouble putting it down. Not sure I could really believe the final outcome but it was a good ending.

[Shervin Jamali · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Middleton's latest fiction, tragedy leads one woman down a dark path. Evolving over an extended period of time, where does this path lead? Redemption? Salvation? Justice? Love? Any, all, or more could describe Laura's motivations, her endgame; guided by a daughter she lost. Or did she? There's a chance you might not like this protagonist, but you'll likely feel compelled to sympathize. It's no secret I'm a big fan of Middleton's; her writing is practically flawless.