From the time they were children in England during the 1950s, Hannah and Claudia became the best of friends. From girlhood to adulthood, they traveled extremely different lifepaths, ending up in the least of expected places. However, friendship has always tied them together, and the two were always aware of each other until half a century later when Hannah doesn't show up in a planned vacation spot. Everyone expects for Claudia to know where Hannah is, but Claudia, who isn't as close to Hannah as others think, tries to examine all evidence she has to figure out Hannah's destination. But will she be able to do it? And can she figure out the reason for why Hannah abandoned her family this way?

WITHOUT HER by Rosalind Brackenbury is written in an old-movie-style rather than something that is modern-day. Imagine watching old classic movies with a lot of movements, trying to infer the story from those images instead of being told what is going on. . . Claudia and Hannah are extremely complex characters, and because of this, WITHOUT HER deserves a re-read. This isn't a novel that can be devoured quickly, but takes time to comb through the tale it presents to the readers. The plot moves back and forth between the present day when Hannah disappeared to the past, giving readers glimpses and motivations for both of their actions. 

If you seek a challenging tale that is sure to give your mind a workout, WITHOUT HER by Rosalind Brackenbury will be just what the doctor ordered.