Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for this ARC.

Virginia's husband Jet has died, her son William lives overseas, she is lonely and sunken in grief. In fact, she plans to kill herself in three months' time.

Then she realises all is not well in the life of her neighbour Cate and her baby daughter Ocean. She lives with an aggressive, gaslighting, coercive controlling man, and Ocean's life is clearly in danger.

"I didn’t want to kidnap that baby, and if I could have helped her any other way I would have."

With this opening sentence begins one of the tensest stories I have read in a long time. Part I takes place in London, and Virginia's first person narrative is very powerful, describing her growing sense of unease at her neighbour's situation. Part II shifts completely to introduce us to Jackson, 18, Noah, 11 and their terminally ill Grandma "Panna", who are living together in Margate. Jackson and Noah's family life is a hard one - their mother is in a mental hospital, they suffer racism for being black in a white seaside town, and instead of studying, Jackson looks after Panna and homeschools Noah. The fact that Noah liberates a small ill-treated dog from his cruel owner tells us that despite all that, they are like Virginia - always looking out for  vulnerable people/animals.

So when Virginia in part III arrives in Margate with Ocean in tow to stay in her seaside flat in the same building, they get on like a house on fire - even or especially after Virginia tells them the truth about Ocean. Together, and with the help of Virginia's friend Annie who travels all the way from Oban, they try to keep Ocean safe and rescue her mother too.

This is a heartbreaking novel with many dark elements, but humour too. My favourite character is probably wise beyond his years Noah. What these ordinary people do is nothing short of extraordinary - inmidst all the horror they are the light that keeps on shining. Undoubtedly, Virginia Lane IS a hero.
 
What annoyed me most are the social workers and police officers who dismiss Virginia's valid concerns as that of an old busybody who needs to get a hobby instead of tattling on innocent neighbours. That Virginia doesn't give up shows us what a strong person she is. She is deep in grief but still able to feel for others, and stand her ground against bullies, despite the danger to herself. As is Annie, whose background story will break your heart, and Jackson who dreams of university but selflessly gives it up for his grandma and younger brother, while dealing with a lot of casual racism. Those are the real heroes in society, not people in authority whose job it is to help but who don't.

It is a hard book to read at times but it is beautifully written and will restore your sense of justice, with a satisfying ending. What a fantastic, heartwarming book, full of courage, wisdom and hope. Highly recommended.