Casting Off (by Libby Purves)

When I enjoy a book, I like to re-read it every ten years or so; this seems to be a good gap, giving me sufficient time to forget most of the details, even if I recall the overall theme and the basic plot. It’s been twelve years since I last read Libby Purves’ debut novel, ‘Casting Off’, so it was more than time for a re-read.

The story opens in dramatic fashion, as Ray Brewster, who works at a small marina on the South coast of England, watches a woman start her yacht, and is startled that...