‘A Granite Silence’ Nina Allan

My Review (5 stars out of 5)

A Granite Silence explores a real-life murder that happened in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1934, when eight-year-old Helen Priestly was killed by one of her neighbours. During her school dinner break, Helen’s mother sent her to the shop for a loaf of bread. The little girl was never seen alive again.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, Nina Allan’s writing is never less than superb, and her use of language is at times quite intoxicating, but the mix of fact and fiction is a tad confusing. Beginning with an account of a murder, the author veers off into an exploration of the characters (some real, some imaginary) involved in the subsequent investigation and court case. Delving into the close-knit neighbourhood around Urquhart Road, we get a real sense of the relationships between friends, neighbours and antagonists. It’s true that I enjoyed the book immensely, but I’m left feeling that a more straightforward approach might’ve worked better.

A beautifully written book by a highly talented author.

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