Marcia Willett First Friends

First Friends

Marcia Willett

Dunne, Sep 2006, $12.95

ISBN: 0312306628

In 1964 twelve year old Kate and Cass met at boarding school on the Somerset coast. They became friends sharing secrets, desires, and heartache over the years. Both wed British naval officers, but hate their unfulfilling marriages especially with their spouses at sea for long periods as life at home is dull and frequent affairs is the norm. Cass cherishes finding a new hunk while Kate remains faithful but unhappy.

However, in 1981 Kate attends the funeral of Cass's fifteen years old daughter Charlotte that shakes both women to their core. Both feel guilty over the teen's death that may be the end of a seventeen year best friends' relationship as secrets are revealed about who slept with whom.

FIRST FRIENDS is a fascinating look at British military spouses, who stay behind with the children while their mates are off on military ventures that are often dangerous. The story line is driven by the two best buddies whose husbands' careers force them to constantly relocate and leave them lonely. How they react to their similar situations makes for an insightful look at the sacrifice of military families. Though lacking in any major excitement even with the death of a teen hanging over the entire novel and readers wanting to know what happened to cause Charlotte's demise, Marcia Willett provides a strong character study that spotlights the military family.

Harriet Klausner