‘Years ago, watching a late-night movie, in which a mother had turned to her son and said, I have never loved you, Toby had yawned, declared the film unbelievable and taken himself off to bed. But Jo had watched to the end, a morbid curiosity carrying her through, because she’d known. Sometimes parents didn’t love their children.’


Party-planner, Jo Swainson takes pride in her optimistic outlook. Nearly fifty, she has come to terms with both her childlessness and the estrangement from her cold mother, Bobbi. But after being blindsided by Bobbi’s sudden dementia diagnosis, she’s devastated when her husband announces that he’s leaving to start a family with another.

Puzzled by a photo of a newborn in Bobbi’s handbag, she is further stunned to learn her mother was once hospitalised for a psychotic breakdown. Each revelation only leads to more mysteries, and Jo soon realises her mother is a stranger she longs to know. But with dementia tightening its grip, time is running out for both of them.


Poignant and gripping, Cary J Hansson weaves a memorable tale both haunting and heartfelt. Tackling sensitive subjects in a relatable way, the reader is taken along a path of self-discovery where personal truths are challenged and enlightenment awaits at journey’s end.

Cary is a fifty something mum of three, an ex-dancer, actress, waitress, cleaner, TV presenter, double-glazing sales rep, fax machine operator (what's a fax machine?) You name it and she's cleaned it, served it, sent it or sold it.

After years of globe-trotting and messing about, she settled down to a BA in Literature and Creative Writing, got a First Class and promptly moved to Sweden to start her own mid-life adventure.

She swims in the Baltic sea year round, paddle-boards under midnight suns and has learned to sail.

The author of six books and several short stories, Cary's work has been shortlisted in national and international competitions. She writes stories about ordinary people, living lives of extraordinary courage and indestructible humour. She promises only two things: no knights in shining armour and no flying cars. Her characters save themselves, as in the end we all must do.

To learn more visit: https://www.caryjhansson.com/