Marianne's Reviews > Finding Eadie

Finding Eadie is the third novel by British-born Australian author, Caroline Beecham. London, late 1942, and assistant editor at Partridge Press, Alice Cotton suddenly and inexplicably abandons her latest exciting project to care for a pregnant cousin in Bristol.

In reality, Alice’s deeply religious mother has sent her off to give birth away from prying eyes, promising they will raise the baby together with their cousin cover story. Except that Alice wakes, days after giving birth to Eadie, to find her mother has taken her daughter, and given her away.

As an employee of Partridge Press’s New York office, Theo Bloom can’t really refuse to go to London, even when it means leaving his fiancée (the boss’s daughter) and his ailing father. Nor is he sure of the reception he might receive there: an American sent to sort them out, is what they’ll think. Theo has to see whether various problems, including a reduced paper allocation, can be overcome so the London branch will remain viable.

When he meets with the staff, their loyalty and dedication is clear, but they seem to be pinning their hopes on an absent staff member, Alice Cotton, whose Women and Children First edition could be promising. But where is this Alice?

Then Alice returns, and Theo can immediately see why the team is so enthusiastic about her contribution: her fervour and optimism are infectious. But some of the time, he notes she is quite distracted from her work: there’s something below the surface, something concerning that Alice isn’t sharing.

Alice has returned with one purpose in mind: to use her position at Partridge as an entrée into anywhere that can provide information on the baby farmers to whom her daughter has been handed over. Because Alice will do everything in her power to get her child back. She finds Theo interesting and attractive, but really, she hasn’t the time to spend on a man, nor is she ready to trust one after Eadie’s father.

Beecham easily captures her setting and the era, and explores two interesting topics: the illicit trade in infants; and the importance of books and publishing during wartime. The Regent’s Park zoo story is delightful and if the plot is a little predictable, it does have an exciting climax.

While the characters are appealing, the story is patchy in places and lacks the depth needed to live up to its initial promise, making it enjoyable, but not outstanding, historical fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Allen and Unwin.