THE unthinkable loss of a child is the focus of local author, Linda Green’s latest tome.

‘While my eyes were closed,’ already a top 10 Ebook bestseller, focuses on the character of Lisa Dale who shuts her eyes and counts to 100 in a traditional game of hide-and-seek with her daughter in the local park.

But what should have been a fun finding game has devastating consequences for Lisa when she finally opens her eyes and realises that her four-year-old daughter, Ella, has gone.

Disbelieving that her child has actually disappeared, Lisa scours the park, heading for the butterfly house where she is convinced her little girl will have gone. She is convinced Ella is simply hiding and won’t give up the game, but as time goes by the grim reality dawns and, for Lisa, every parents worst nightmare comes true.

“It is not a game anymore. All around me complete strangers are calling my daughter’s name and she isn’t coming out. She isn’t answering. I don’t know why not, but I do know that wherever she is I need to find her,” writes Linda.

The emotive tale continues with Linda calling the police..... The perception is every one seems to know who snatched the little girl but the concern is that the person may have know Ella and that brings even more worrying consequences.

The impact of Ella’s disappearance reverberates throughout the family and beyond. Linda explores the highly emotive and tense situation through the characters involved.

Lisa’s father, Ella’s grandfather, is naturally angry and upset when the police want to interview family members.

The general feeling is that the finger of suspicion is being placed on relatives but the greatest emotion is the entire loss, that one of them is missing that the family unit is no longer whole.

While Lisa is the main character, it is interesting to see how the situation affects everyone else around her, but readers cannot fail to be moved by the emotion she as a mother feels.

“I slide out from under the duvet and pad through to Ella’s room, opening the door gently so as not to wake her. I know instantly that she is not there because of how light the room is. Her curtains are not closed. There didn’t seem to be any point. It is not a nightmare from which I have woken; it’s a nightmare in which I finally fell asleep,” writes Linda, referring to Lisa.

“I climb into Ella’s bed and pull the duvet up over me. I feel bad for sleeping, as if it is somehow disloyal to her. ‘I do care,’ I whisper into the duvet. ‘I care very much, you know that. I just couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer.’

As well as the physical and emotional impact Ella’s disappearance is having on her family, the story also looks at the wider implications too.

Suddenly the situation thrusts the family into the glare of the media spotlight. They all find themselves placed under additional pressure but they appreciate the appeals for information which may bring their own home are a necessity. ‘Just give her back,’ I say. ‘Let her come home to us, where she belongs. And if you know where she is or have any suspicions about someone you know, please call the police,’ is Lisa’s impassioned plea and appeal.

Then there is the even more worrying prospect, that the person who has taken their little girl believes in their own mind that they are doing the right thing....... They don’t see it as a kidnap situation, how could it be?

But to everyone else their little girl is missing. They don’t know where she is or who she is with, but the clever character assessments designated into chapters help the reader to explore exactly who is involved in this intriguing plot which is set in the West Yorkshire town of Halifax and also features references to local places including the local beauty spot, Ogden Water.

Packed with emotion, the suspense of the devastation situation this family find themselves thrust into through circumstance is apparent through every page of this thrilling read.

A real page turner and another riveting read from local author Linda Green.

‘While my eyes were closed’ is written by Linda Green. It is priced at £7.99 and published by Quercus Fiction. For more information visit quercusbooks.co.uk