I picked the first book I saw which looked interesting, Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenagger. I chose that because I had enjoyed her previous book, The Time Traveller’s Wife. But if I had had just another five minutes to read the blurb on the back properly before having to dash for the plane, I’d have put it back on the shelf. It turned out to be a modern ghost story – all about death, love, bereavement, grief and haunting. It was a gripping story, with a number of twists in the tail which I didn’t see coming, but really totally inappropriate for the situation I’m in at the moment. I’d have been better off with my usual airport-novel standby, an Agatha Christie omnibus.

This is a pot-boiler, as you might guess from my synopsis. It was a lot of fun, and kept me turning the page, but it certainly wasn’t very substantial fare. The plot went slightly beyond the line of credibility, the characters weren’t caricatures but neither were they fully rounded, but the situations were amusing. I’m glad I borrowed it from the library rather than buying it, but I don’t regret the short time I spent reading it.

Verdict: yes.