Quarter Past Two on a Wednesday Afternoon by Linda Newbery will be featured on the Radio 2 Book Club on Tuesday 26 August.
The book was selected with the help of a panel made up of Reading Agency and library staff from across the UK.
Quarter Past Two on a Wednesday Afternoon
At quarter past two on a Wednesday afternoon, Anna leaves her big sister, Rose, dozing on a sun lounger in the garden and goes out to the shops. She never sees her again.
Twenty years later, and the tragedy of Rose’s mysterious disappearance still haunts her family. Unsure what to do with her life, Anna feels she will never escape from the shadow cast by her beautiful, charismatic older sibling. Convinced that Rose is alive, Anna begins to search for her lost sister. What did happen to Rose on that summer’s day?
Selection panel review
Our selection panel thought this was a great read. This is what they had to say:
“Anna’s quest for the truth reveals family secrets and tragedies as she unpicks the mystery of Rose’s disappearance.”
“The story has a strong beginning; it’s well written and very evocative of the hot summer day when Rose disappears from everyone’s life. It’s a quick and engaging read and I think readers would have their own theories about both Rose and Anna’s situations.”
“Anna’s story of dealing with her sister’s disappearance 20 years before is as sad as it is filled with hope. As the mystery unfolds, you understand where each character is coming from and when the big reveal moment arrives you feel satisfied with its outcome.”
About the author
Linda Newbery is an award-winning author of fiction for children and teenagers. Her novel Set in Stone won the 2006 Costa Children’s Book Award. Quarter Past Two on a Wednesday Afternoon is her first novel for adults.
A word from Linda
I was delighted and a little daunted to hear that my book has been chosen for the Book 
Club – thank you to the Reading Agency and the various readers who helped it through the selection process.
It’s a strange feeling when a book is published after regarding it as private, MINE, for so long while I’ve been working on it. Like many writers I’m superstitiously secretive about work in progress; I don’t show it to anyone or talk about it until the first draft is complete, for fear of losing whatever the compulsion is that drives it. So, when it’s finally out there, I almost don’t want anyone to read it – but, simultaneously, I want it to reach as many readers as possible. That feeling is all the stranger because the interval between finishing a book and publication is quite a long one. I’m now writing my second novel for adults, and absorbed in that.
Having published for children and young adults for many years, I know better than to expect to please everyone. What I hope is that some readers will like my book, and – if I’m lucky – a few will love it. Thank you for bringing it to the attention of readers and giving it that chance.
Get involved
Win a set of 10 copies of Quarter Past Two on a Wednesday Afternoon for your Reading Group by completing this survey by 29 August 2014.
Tune in to Simon Mayo’s Drivetime on Tuesday 26 August to hear a live interview with Linda Newbery talking about her book.
Have you read Quarter Past Two on a Wednesday Afternoon? You can share your thoughts on Twitter, or by posting a comment in the space below.
Want to find out more? The Radio 2 Book Club now has a dedicated Twitter feed, and you can also follow the author Linda Newbery.
