Andrea Badenoch (1951–2004)

Loving Geordie by Andrea Badenoch was as much about social issues as a mystery story. Set in 1960’s Newcastle as immense demolition was going on, the reader is immersed in the slum neighbourhood of Elswick. Street after street of houses are coming down. The people are being forced out of their houses and relocated to units in the new blocks of apartments that are going up. The city council was more interested in the idea of modernization than in looking after the very people that voted show more them in.

In the midst of this desolation, fifteen year old Leslie is trying to hold the pieces of his world together. His mother is basically a prostitute, she has lately become hooked on pills and is not around much. Leslie is trying to care for his younger brother, Geordie, but Geordie is autistic, known in the neighbourhood as the local dafty. There are bills piling up, eviction notices and the threat of having Geordie placed in a mental institution. When two twin girls are found in a derelict house with their throats slashed, Geordie seems to be the one that the police are most interested in.

This was an intensely emotional and atmospheric read. The author shows great sensitivity and insight as she slowly peels back the layers and exposes the corruption, greed and darkness that lurks underneath. This twisted tale is one that will linger in my mind and it is a great shame that the author passed away at the age of 52 having only written 4 books. show less

Blink by Andrea Badenoch was an intense, dark mystery set in a depressed coal mining village near Newcastle on Tyne. The time is the very early 1960’s and the story unfolds through the main character, Kathleen, a twelve year old girl. Kathleen is on her way to visit her friend when she stumbles upon the body of her own young aunt, floating in a sludgy pond. Kathleen comes from a strange family, her aunt Gloria was the village hairdresser and had a reputation for being flashy and too fast. show more While the rest of the village wants to dismiss this as a suicide, Kathleen, and eventually the police, are sure this is murder.

This book was however, so much more than just a mystery story. The author excelled at creating atmosphere and giving us vivid descriptions of the social, political and sexual mores of the day. In a book filled with mostly unlikeable characters, Kathleen’s youth, hopes, and dreams make her a true heroine to root for. A clever girl, she eventually unmasks the murderer and reveals long held secrets.

Sadly this book was written as the author was at the beginning of her losing battle with breast cancer, and perhaps that explains why this book is so dark. Although the book dragged a bit in the middle, over all I enjoyed this story very much. I found it to be beautifully written and with enough twists and turns to keep me interested in the final outcome. Andrea Badenoch produced one more book after Blink before she passed away in 2004, a loss of a fine writer just reaching her stride. show less