Synopsis:
Three strangers. Ten miles. One life-changing day…
Suzie is 69 and has been keeping a secret for most of her life. She’d do anything to have her beloved Colin with her today, of all days, but she’s hoping that the long walk ahead will be a first chapter in a new life without him.
Mike is 42 and is joining the queue out of a sense of duty. It’s for his mum, who adored the Queen, but she can’t be there. He’s lived his whole life by the book, putting facts before feelings, trying to fit in but always sticking out. Perhaps he can change that today, by becoming part of history?
Abbie is 19, desperately hungover and isn’t sure how she ended up in the queue at all. Her ‘big move’ to London hasn’t exactly gone to plan – surrounded by millions of people, she’s never felt more lonely, and her dreams feel further away than ever. Yet today, she feels closer to her queue family than she does her real one.
As the unlikely trio wind along the Thames, edging ever closer to Westminster and the Queen, it becomes clear that when they finally leave the queue their worlds will never be the same again…
https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-queue/alexandra-heminsley/9781398718401
Why We Loved It
Inspired by a historic and special event, Alexandra has created a heartwarming and unique book centred around the queue that formed following the death of the Queen.
As the nation watched events unfolding, many were inspired to join the queue and become a part of this experience. And it is this desire that unites this unlikely combination of people.
Alexandra combines a gentle exploration of the lives of these strangers with descriptions of both the London landmarks and the events as they unfolded.
A fascinating and unique novel capturing both a sense of time and place. Highly Recommended!