After Susan Middleton’s mother dies, a woman appears, claiming to be Susan’s long-lost sister Karen, now known as Carly. Karen disappeared more than twenty years earlier on the night of her high-school formal; now, in light of a potentially lucra­tive inheritance, it seems she’s back. Street-smart and tough, Carly insinu­ates herself into the Middleton’s lives with relative ease. But is she who she claims to be?

Where Have You Been? is divided into three parts, each containing numerous shorter sections written from Susan, Carly and Ed’s perspec­tives. Their voices are distinct, and the richly layered text warrants re-reading. James has a keen eye for detail. Her exploration of the gradual splin­tering effect of the enigmatic Carly’s appearance on the otherwise smooth ‘happily-ever-after’ suburban life led by Susan, her husband and their two children is absorbing.

As the novel progresses, there is an increasing sense of shadowy menace and uncertainty. Ultimately, while the dénouement is satisfyingly unexpected, there are no simple an­swers to be found here. The tantalising conclusion seems to raise just as many questions as it appears to answer. As Carly reflects towards the end of Where Have You Been? ‘She likes to save the best till last. She eats all her vegetables first, chews them fast, then savours the steak. Stories are like that too, she thinks. The climax needs to be held back, held tight, delayed until the optimum moment … But it’s a mistake to think that the climax is ever the end.’