Phoebe and Robert are concerned about their father James; a retired physics professor who is still grieving the death of their mother and is in need of live-in care as both Phoebe and Robert live some distance way.
Robert is writing a novel while his wife is a morning television newsreader, and Phoebe is a struggling artist with an unsatisfactory relationship with the mysterious Torren, (who lives in a shack in a Welsh forest). They eventually employ the services of Mandy - a well-referenced chatty carer who moves in to look after James.
The two hit it off instantly, and if the adult children are concerned about the dumbing-down of their father's intellect, and his enthusiasm for visiting outlet stores and donkey sanctuaries, they are too guilty that they have out-sourced his care to say anything.
Mandy is also quite forthright and voices some unpleasant truths about the adult children's lives and perceived entitlement.
Their father begins to decline and Mandy is perhaps not quite what she seems when the children uncover evidence of her looking through their father's papers, and quizzing the grandchildren about family circumstances.
A clever gob-smacking twist eventually takes this novel in a completely different direction (don't worry, no spoiler alerts here).
The reader learns about the young life of Robert and the future lives of his children.
The Carer examines how well children can really know their parents, and how well can parent understand the feelings of their young children and resentments they carry into adulthood.
Deborah Moggach has written television dramas and books that have been made into film such as Tulip Fever and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
Reviewed by Katrina
Catalogue link: The Carer
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