Some things don’t change; in my Writers Talking column back in June 2019, I wrote that the character in one of Peter’s books was on the train from London to St Austell. I was reading it whilst doing that exact journey. When reading his latest novel, ‘I need that friend’, I was doing that journey in reverse. As usual I was in need of a good read to help the time pass.

Peter is a prolific writer and a new book from him is always a pleasure. This one is a sequel to ‘No Longer Perfect’, in which Richard and Sarah are newly and happily married and expecting their first child. I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll just say that the plot was the result of a highly original idea and Peter wrote this, his latest book, because, as he says, he “had to see what happened to Sarah”.

The story begins with with the words “Piccadilly Circus Tube Station. Saturday 7th January 2006….there was no panic here, only apparent confusion”. Having set the scene, he draws a realistic picture of what happened next, of the resulting shock, self doubt and related mental health issues, fear of what the future holds and memories of what has past. That may sound bleak, but Peter has an easy style which carries the reader along, wanting to know more and with the hope of a happy ending. In other words, just what was needed to engage me on my journey.

The cover photo was taken by Peter’s wife, Jill. Many people will recognise it as the view from Malpas where the Truro and Tresillian rivers join the River Fal. No surprise then that, although the story starts and ends in London, much of it takes place in Cornwall. And I finally found out what happened to Sarah, although maybe it’s not really goodbye, only au revoir?