My Policeman - Going back to Brighton

The mark of a master author is in the telling, so much is held back. Until you are straining and on edge to hear what really happened. How it happened, why it happened and all the messy details. Bethan Roberts can lead you around the late 1950's of Brighton, UK. The chilly sea and wind of the coast. The intrigue of a time when everything was kept hidden, for a while................. Some passages stand out.

This threat was faceless. It was something we couldn’t see, let alone fight. P158. How true of the coward's way of making threats. This passage alludes to Patrick's earlier lover, who received black mailing letters, threatening to reveal his homosexuality. The theme of bitter, cruel and vengeful letters is reprised to another chilling aftermath. A slow cancer pervades.

Bethan Roberts manages to instil delightful quick sketches of places and surroundings eg.
The East Street Dining room is very Houghton: large white plates, silver gravy boats, knocking-on-a-bit waiters with crumbling smiles and no hurry to get your food to you, everything boiled. But the wine is a passable and they do a great pud. P152.

The humour of this tale lightens the sadness. Patrick, one of the main characters, remains ever the charming host and observer, with a quick quip. Until he no longer can.
Very easy to read. Something in these characters made me reach back to my own elders and how things must have been.
Themes: women's rights, homosexuality, marriage, social change.
My Policeman - Bethan Roberts