Paperback by Sandstone Press, £8.99
Moira Forsyth’s fourth novel is a captivating exploration into the inner workings of an ordinary, Scottish family and the consequences of a devastating tragedy.
When we meet Janet, she is happily married to Harry and a devoted mother to Esther and Louise. She’s equally devoted to her brother Gordon’s baby daughter, Margaret.
Gordon also has twins from his first marriage, but he and his present wife, Diana, appear to be struggling with parenthood and still living the life of a couple without parental responsibilities.
It is agreed amongst the family that Janet will care for Margaret while the twins are at boarding school. However, the short-term solution soon becomes a permanent arrangement and Janet sees herself giving up the opportunity to have a third child of her own as she has to care for her niece.
As the twins grow older, they put firm divides between themselves and the rest of family. The pair head to Glasgow to embark on medicine degrees but one fateful night will result in the twins being separated forever and leave the family reeling from tragedy.
Author Moira, who grew up in Aberdeen, lived in England for nearly 20 years, and now lives in the Highlands has a narration style that gives the reader an insight into the long-lasting consequences of the decisions taken by the family. She looks at each character in turn to examine how life has unfolded.
The Treacle Well is an all-round good story, which is realistic and really draws you in and keeps you reading until the final page.