One Puzzling Afternoon

Beguiling . . . Beautifully written, this dual-timeline mystery draws you in and keeps a tight hold. * Heat Magazine *
Gripping . . . heartbreaking. * Fabulous magazine, The Sun *
Full of depth and humanity, One Puzzling Afternoon is a beautifully written novel that really tugs at the heartstrings. * Culture Fly *
A captivating and poignant book, I was completely hooked. You can't help but fall for Edie. * Marianne Cronin, author of 100 Years of Lenni and Margot *
Completely captivating. A real page turner. Eighty-two year old Edie is a wonderful protagonist, desperate to solve the mystery of her friend's disappearance sixty years earlier. * Louise Hare *
This is such a delicate web of a book, a mystery deftly woven with tension and compassion. Edie is a heartbreaking figure, struggling to catch her last memories before they're blown away forever - her quest/plight is absorbing and extremely poignant. * Beth Morrey, bestselling author of Saving Missy *
Marvellous . . . a special gem of a book, a perfectly executed double timeline mystery with a twist you don't see coming. One Puzzling Afternoon has one of the most unusual and endearing protagonists in recent crime fiction. In this dual time-line novel, Emily Critchley wonderfully weaves together a modern crime narrative with the sunny, idyllic childhood memories of her protagonist. Post-war nostalgia is perfectly evoked - until the darkness at the edges of Edie's and Lucy's story draws is quickly like a summer storm. As Edie slowly unveils the lies and secrets surrounding Lucy's disappearance, she must confront difficult memories of her own childhood, and the terrors it held. One Puzzling Afternoon is a dark and delightful lock box of riddles, secrets and memories. A spellbinding novel that enchants and unnerves in equal measure. * Inga Vesper, author of The Long, Long Afternoon *
An uplifting, bittersweet story with a page-turning mystery at its heart. Emily Critchley writes about ageing and memory with huge warmth and compassion, and I was drawn in to Edie's world from the very first page. A beautifully atmospheric and endearing book. * Freya Sampson *
A beautifully written book about trying to hold on to all that is important, including memories of a much-missed best friend . . . The style reminded me a little of of Clare Chambers, with its poise and time-specific feel. It's the perfect book for lovers of Elizabeth Is Missing, but has its own distinct voice and charm. A lovely combination of a cracking story and a host of characters you want to reach out and hug. * Jo Leevers, author of Tell Me How This Ends *
I absolutely loved it . . . A charmingly addictive dual timeline mystery, filled with quirky characters, and rich in 1950s nostalgia, this book had me hooked from the first chapter and wouldn't let me go until I had pieced together the puzzle of Edie's past. * Neil Alexander, author of The Vanishing of Margaret Small *
An intriguing, unsettling mystery told over a dual timeframe by one of the most endearing lead characters you'll come across this year.Utterly compelling, darkly unnerving and a joyful masterclass in storytelling, Emily Critchley's debut adult novel hits the mark on so many levels. A gripping mystery, with heart-warming characters,One Puzzling Afternoon manages to keep the full range of emotions in play - you'll cry, you'll chuckle and there are times you won't dare turn the page. * Lovereading Debut of the Month *