Seesaw by Deborah Moggach (Vintage)
by Patrick O'Connor
DEBORAH Moggach has quite an impressive catalogue. She received a BAFTA nomination for her screenplay Pride & Prejudice and her novel These Foolish Things was made into the hit film, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
This book starts off as if it is going to be another kidnap caper but Moggach, being the talented writer that she is, serves up a much more interesting and fascinating offering.
The Price family live in the London suburb of Stanmore. Everything seems to going well even thought their 17 year old eldest daughter Hannah is a bit of a grumpy loner.
The Prices are well-off but not rich. However when they win a family holiday to Florida and their good fortune is advertised in the local paper, Hannah is snatched and the kidnappers demand half a million pounds for her safe return.
The story moves up a gear when money is handed over and Hannah is back. The author then puts the family under microscopic attention. They have had to sell off everything to raise the money and as they sink into poverty, the Prices collapse under the pressure.
Guilt also abounds and not only amongst the Prices for Moggach also lets us into the lives of the kidnappers, one of whom established a very special relationship with Hannah.