Two Months

TITLE: Two Months
AUTHOR: Gail Schimmel
PUBLISHER: Pan Macmillan
REVIEWER: Beryl Eichenberger
Having read Gail’s previous four books, all un-put-down-able and perfect book club reads, I was curious to see how she moved into genre of psychological thriller but of course she handles it with aplomb providing the tension and build up that turns every page. Gail has woven the sinister and evil with precision, opening the door onto the scourge of bullying and a story of a life rebuilt. 

From the moment you start reading it until the unpredictable end this is a story that grips and won’t let go.   What would you do if you woke one April morning and could not remember what had happened over the last two months? No-one not even your husband can fill you in. Or won’t is the bigger question – and what is he hiding? Primary school teacher Erica and her husband Kenneth have a good life: Erica is doing the job she loves, she is married to a man who loves her and the future looks bright – until that morning when she wakes up and finds that the last two months are a complete void.
Is this her brain reacting to an unpleasant experience – it’s happened before – something that Erica is unaware of – and what could have derailed her life now? After her horrific experiences at high school as the object of vicious bullying Erica has rebuilt her life.  Her only obvious flaw is that she is fat which, as we know can be the perfect launch-pad for toxic teenage girls.  Their reign of terror had encompassed Erica’s whole young life, her first boyfriend, her family, a car accident and an almost-tragedy. 
But that was then: today she is confident and while she doesn’t have a huge circle of friends - after her experience at school she is wary of getting too close to people –those she has are loyal.
How do you recover from the bullying? Repression is a good tool and Erica doesn’t think too much about that time. Instead she embraces her adult life and the good fortune she has encountered. She is a strong, kind and happy person who is ‘abundant’ rather than fat – adored by the loving Kenneth.