Snap is a joy and completely delightful. Not to be missed!

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑  Years ago, I read Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer and thought it was such a fantastic read. Now, (how many books later?!?) I found her again with her latest novel, Snap. A brilliant novel, honestly. It's got everything a reader wants: sympathetic children, a murder, a mystery or two, a gruff police detective, sweet yet smart dialog, comedy, tension and a real understanding of human nature, namely grief. So much to love!

In Snap, Jack, as a child, and his two younger sisters await the return of their pregnant mother who left them in the family's broken down car whilst she went down the motorway looking to phone for help. She doesn't come back and their life spirals unrecognizably from there. It's a trauma that defines them and forces Jack to take charge, breaking and entering houses to provide for his sisters. It may sound grim but it's so much more. The dynamic of Jack's carefully constructed family life and his 'professional' life is quite something. Many elements work together seamlessly to deliver tenderness, warmth and lightness which makes this story so intriguing, not dark at all. The story for Snap is a carefully choreographed dance between Jack and his 'work', Jack's fixation with all he has lost, various crimes that have been committed locally, a disgraced London police detective who finds himself in a backwater community that may be beneath him, an old murder investigation, and a new peculiar mystery. All could be believed to be lacking in connection but come together beautifully to provide a story rich and, dare I say, cheerful. This is one of the most delightful books I've read in a while. I bet you can't read it without a chuckle or two. Enjoy!