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The Missing Word

A mother's journey through tragic loss and resilience

Concita De Gregorio author Clarissa Botsford translator

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Europa Editions (UK) Ltd

Published:7th Apr '22

Should be back in stock very soon

The Missing Word cover

A mother’s devastating loss leads her on a poignant journey in The Missing Word, exploring grief, resilience, and the search for her missing children.

In The Missing Word, Concita De Gregorio explores the harrowing journey of a mother who faces the unimaginable loss of her twin daughters. Irina, an Italian lawyer living in Switzerland, leads a seemingly orderly life with her husband and children. However, one fateful weekend, everything shatters when her husband takes the girls away, leading to a tragic turn of events that leaves Irina grappling with the void left by their disappearance. The narrative captures the raw emotions and turmoil of a mother searching for her children, a state of grief that is often beyond words.

The story unfolds rapidly, immersing readers in Irina's perspective as she navigates the aftermath of her husband's suicide and the haunting absence of Alessia and Livia. De Gregorio masterfully embodies Irina's voice, allowing readers to feel the depth of her despair and the relentless pursuit of truth amidst chaos. The author confronts the complexities of loss, love, and the human spirit's resilience in the face of overwhelming sorrow.

The Missing Word is not just a tale of tragedy; it is a fierce portrayal of a woman's strength and vulnerability. Through Irina's memories and reflections, the narrative delves into the intricacies of motherhood and the indelible bond between a mother and her children. As Irina pieces her life back together, readers are invited to witness her journey of healing and the search for meaning in a world that has turned upside down.

"[The Missing Word] is, most wonderfully and strangely, a book about making an accommodation with something unbearable." * Catherine Taylor, Irish Times *
“Crime from other climes is also satisfyingly in evidence with The Missing Word , in which the familiar scenario of the implosion of a perfect family is given a provocative twist (the translation by Clarissa Botsford is as impressive as one would expect from the publisher, Europa editions).” * Barry Forshaw, CrimeTime *
“Delving deep beneath the surface of one woman’s grief to leave a lasting impression, this heartfelt novel offers itself up as a much-needed space – full of words of comfort and advice – for that as-of-yet nameless group of people who have existed without a voice for far too long.” * Buzz Magazine *
"Like Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, De Gregorio takes a true story and reveals what life cannot. Extraordinary." * Grazia *
"From a tragic true story, a book about love and the saving power of words." * Panorama *
“Moving and intense." * Il Piccolo *

ISBN: 9781787703698

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

112 pages