Sue Cook's Book

When you think of Sue Cook you probably have images of Crimewatch, Children In Need and that Channel 4 collector's show that always seemed to be on when you were bunking off work in the 90s.  It is a fair bet that you don't think of intelligent literary adventure novels.  And who would blame you?

I met Sue over lunch at her agent's place a year or so ago.  She was every bit as nice as you'd imagine.  Probably more so.  Since then we have been in occasional email contact and have built up an unlikely acquaintance.

Which was why I was apprehensive about reading her debut novel, On Dangerous Ground.  What to say if I thought it was pants?  A diplomatic silence?  Pretend I hadn't got round to it?  I mean look at it.  It is so pink.  I was bound to hate it.

But of course I didn't, did I?  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The story is a neat contemporary take in the typical family drama.  With her son at university, her daughter off for a gap year teaching in Vietnam and her husband sensitively admitting to an affair at their anniversary meal, Pru finds herself 'being made redundant' as wife and mother after twenty years in the job.

On her own for the first time in two decades, Pru is awkwardly adjusting to her new life when word reaches her that the feisty Molly has left her job and is involved in clashes with the police in Vietnam.  Her knee-jerk flight halfway across the globe to help her daughter brings little thanks when it turns out that Molly is doing fine and is none too grateful for the interference.  That is, until she does manage to get herself arrested and promptly vanishes from sight.

A frantic search ensues with Pru calling upon the help of an unlikely coterie of contacts and new acquaintances, including a US war veteran who she meets in a Saigon bar.  This latter relationship naturally reveals itself as a potential romantic entanglement but Pru's preoccupation with her daughter's safety, and Ben's own demons and memories, conspires to thwart consumation and keeps a healthy tension flowing throughout.  A lesser book, more in keeping with the pink jacket, would have had them falling into each other's arms straight away; Cook keeps us waiting.  And waiting.  Until we feel sure we've read it all wrong.

While I cannot suggest that Sue Cook is likely to win the Nobel Prize or anything, this is a surprisingly good read and she is an author with a significant talent for storytelling.  She peppers the narrative with some fine imagery, 'I have measured out my life in Calpol spoons' being a good example and one that sums up the book's main strength: this is a novel about motherhood.  The author's ability to put into words the pride and petty frustrations associated with parenting, and specifically the pain and reward of being a mother, is her real strong point.  This is honest writing with no pretence.

The real surprise for me was how well Sue handled the pace and plot.  Things get very hectic and dramatic towards the end and she manages to keep the action zooming along, injecting real excitement as she does so.  Debut novelists are not always so adept at that side of things in my experience.

As someone who reads a great many books, I do like to take a break from my normal fodder at times and On Dangerous Ground was a refreshing change of pace and style.  It is clearly going to appeal more to a female audience, and those 30+ will probably get more out of it than younger readers, but if I had so much fun reading it then I don't see why anyone else wouldn't.

On Dangerous Ground is published by Headline and it is rather pink.

Comments

[Maria]

Wow. Your blog is VERY RED.

[Scott Pack]

Well, they are the company colours. I am nothing if not brand aware!

[lance]

sounds good, what happens in the end Scott?

[Scott Pack]

Read the book you lazy bugger.

[John Self]

I've never forgiven her for pulling out of An Afternoon with Alan Partridge ... and Sue Cook.

[Sue Cook]

My name is also Sue Cook. I live in North Vancouver B.C., Canada.

I am a poltical activist and enjoy stirring things up.

Hope you feel the same way

Sue Cook