The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon

Although on the surface this is a gentle, easy to read, uncomplicated novel, I found it incredibly enjoyable, well written and clever.  Whilst I would not classify it as detective fiction, there is a mystery at the centre of the story, and I eagerly read on, not just to discover the answer, but also to find out more about the characters.

The story centres on two children, Grace and Tilly, 10 years old and at the start of their school summer holidays.  Being nice, caring children who are slightly disconcerted by recent events and perhaps driven by a lack of anything else to do, they take it upon themselves to investigate the sudden unexplained disappearance of Grace’s neighbour, Mrs Creasy.  Without giving too much away, Grace hits upon a method for not only finding Mrs Creasy, but preventing anyone else from disappearing, and so their mission begins.  It requires them to “interview” all the neighbours who live on the cul-de-sac, which they cleverly accomplish via subtlety and subterfuge.

As the summer unfolds we discover a lot about the residents of the 8 houses on The Avenue.  More than Grace and Tilly do.  Not only can the reader interpret and understand conversations better than the children, but parts of the novel are also told from the various characters’ perspectives.  Cannon cleverly reveals and withholds information and we learn that each character is hiding a secret.  More mysteries emerge, many intertwined and overlapping into each other’s lives.  Secrets and the fear of being exposed and judged is a key theme in this novel.

The book is set in a housing estate in the Midlands during the record-breaking heatwave of 1976.  It spans only 2 months, but includes flashbacks and memories of the characters’ pasts.  Reading it during our recent hot spell was an immersive experience!  Cannon does a great job describing the feel and smells and oppressive nature of such relentless heat and I could well appreciate the reactions of the different characters as they struggled to cope and stay sane.

I enjoyed Cannon’s writing style, particularly her descriptions and inventive use of simile.  It is interesting and evocative and allows her to convey characters’ thoughts and emotions without the need for internal monologues or explanations.  I also loved Grace’s character, she brings a lot of humour and charm to the book as well as amusing observations.

My only complaint about the book is that it ended too soon!  I wanted to read on, to follow the neighbours a bit more and have everything revealed and explained.  I was expecting some speculations that I had made to be confirmed, and for some consequences to be dished out.  It isn’t a short book, over 450 pages, but I still wanted more.  Cannon leaves a lot to our own imagination.  I will have to settle for re-reading it.  I imagine a second read will be a different experience as, knowing what I now know, I will probably pick up on hints and interpret things slightly differently.

Added Note: I have now read Three Things About Elsie which is another excellent, absorbing, enjoyable read with delightfully endearing characters.  I would thoroughly recommend it.