Books

The Best Days of Our Lives: Diamond’s latest family drama is weighed down by domestic minutiae

Intricate family drama story is somewhat plodding although it does deal well with the issue of family bereavement

Lucy Diamond: the author’s 17th novel shies away from giving any of its characters a chance to make too many mistakes

Lucy Diamond has more experience than most in plotting intricate family dramas. Her 17th novel The Best Days of Our Lives is no exception, following the McKenzies as they struggle to cope with the death of eldest daughter Leni, aged just 35.

Middle child Alice wants to piece together Leni’s last days with the help of her diary. She visits restaurants and bars, figuring out who her sister met up with before the fatal bike ...