This is a fascinating book and its strength lies in the fact that there are two people expressing their thoughts and recollections; one a woman plagued by depression and flashbacks, the other a psychotherapist trying to help her.

The one thing that is missing from the book, and perhaps this is to do with the editing, is that we never get to the bottom of Linda's flashbacks involving being held under water; this is the flashback that is the catalyst for her descent into depression and therapy, but is ultimately the memory that is least explored.

Linda's descriptions of disassociation and self harm are helpful for anyone trying to understand what these experiences may feel like or achieve by way of allievating or switching off mental/emotional distress.

The photographs are helpful as unlike many other true stories about people coming to terms with abuse, the images of Linda as a child firmly place control of the text in the hands of the author and are jarring freeze-frames of smiles and happy times that show not a hint of what was going on underneath.

A powerful and humane read, well worth sticking with to the end despite the difficult and painful contents.