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How can friends that have shared so many important moments recapture that closeness after circumstances have separated them? This is the root of the question that Rachel asks herself when her best friend returns home after an absence of seven years. Clara’s return to Brighton came after Rachel was already a successful crime reporter for television. Living in London with the man of her dreams she is perturbed that the previous closeness they’d shared was hard to recapture but she still classed Clara as her best friend so when she is sent to report on her sudden disappearance Rachel doesn’t know what to think.

Set between the present in 2007 and the past in the early 1990’s, the book is written in a form of a letter to the lost Clara. I like the way the time shifts were done, sometimes they can seem contrived but as this was a letter the memories that Rachel chose to mention seemed relevant. I have to admit I don’t normally like the second person in books, but again my fascination overcame my usual irritation.

I found the book a compelling read, watching how time has shifted the balance of power in the relationship, Rachel is no longer a shy schoolgirl and it is unclear for most of the book what changes Clara has undergone.

Colette McBeth has written a very clever book, the short punchy sentences kept me reading while I tried desperately to work out what had happened to Carla, and why. The cast of characters is quite small, wonderfully observed and seemingly realistic although I didn’t particularly like either of the two girls, they were definitely interesting.

To sum up; Precious Thing was a fairly quick read, not too taxing, but with plenty to think about this proved to be a great psychological thriller.