Mumsnet book club: January book of the month, Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey. Join the discussion and put your questions to author Emma Healey on Wednesday 28 January, 9-10pm.

[TillyBookClub]

Our January choice is a debut novel that comes with a whole heap of accolades: ELIZABETH IS MISSING is currently shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award 2014, and was shortlisted for the National Book Awards Popular Fiction Book of the Year 2014 and for the National Book Awards New Writer of the Year 2014. It also comes with high praise from previous Mumsnet web chatters Emma Donoghue and Jonathan Coe, among other fans. The book is narrated by Maud, who suffers from dementia, but knows that something has happened to her friend Elizabeth. Clues and mysteries are interwoven with her childhood memories, as Maud's confused mind jumps between past and present. It is a gripping suspense story, as well as a compassionate portrait of a 'missing' woman's struggle to find the truth.

You can find out more at our www.mumsnet.com/books/bookclub/2015/elizabeth-is-missing-emma-healey, or at Emmas's own website.

If you weren't lucky enough to bag one of the free books we have given away, you can always get a copy here.

We are delighted that Emma will be joining us on Wednesday 28 January, 9-10pm to discuss Elizabeth Is Missing, her tips on writing plus much more. Please feel free to discuss the book here throughout the month (avoiding spoilers if possible) and then come and meet Emma on the night, and ask her a question or simply tell her what you thought of the book.

Look forward to seeing you here on the 28th.

Have been wanting to read this book for ages, its had great reviews. Love books with unreliable narrators. Have applied for a copy, fingers crossed.

Sounds very interesting, hope I get a copy, thanks for the opportunity :)

I live outside the UK...May have mentioned that once or twice
If Santa is feeling festive enough to send a copy to Germany though I'd be over the moon, plus I am last in the name change poll AGAIN if no can do, thanks anyway.. x

oooh. Sounds good. Bet my mum, a gransnet member would love to read this too.

Sounds good fancy change to my reading pattern ,let's hope

fingers crossed I have been wanting to read this for ages - its on my amazon wishlist!

Sounds good! X

I'd like a copy please!

Would LOVE to read this - it has great reviews . Promise to review it on the '50 Books for 2015' and contribute to the convo here

It sounds like an amazing book, I would love to read it and take part in the discussion. Fingers crossed!

Ooh fingers crossed I get one, looks great

Done

This book was considered best of the 2014 reads of our bookclub. I wouldn't quite describe it as gripping (because to me that is stomach-knotting) but it has credible characters & is compassionate. Enjoy.

I would love to read this, but can't get to apply on the link given- am I doing something wrong? It is saying that the form is private?

Me too. Says the form is private but I was invited to apply by e-mail.

Apologies to anyone who is having trouble with this link. We've got people looking into it. Please do check back later or tomorrow. We should have it working again by then hopefully.

Is the discussion on Tuesday 28th or wednesday 29th january?

Sorry tuesday 27th or wed 28th january?

Hi there

We're really sorry but the giveaway closed yesterday. We should have clarified the closing date on the thread and on the book of month page so apologies for any confusion this has caused. Book giveaway forms are always open for one week. We'll be selecting the 50 people who have been allocated books later today and will inform those who have been successful before the end of the day. If you haven't heard, then please do get hold of a copy of the book and join the webchat.

Yummy - apols also for confusion re: dates. (we haven't done v well this month have we? I'm pretty sure it's Weds 28th but I need to double check this with Tilly and publishers - both of whom are off now til after Christmas but we'll get back to you as soon as we can confirm.)

Thanks. No worries about the date - can block off both times in diary for now.

Have just finished the book. What a great way to get an insight into what its like to be someone suffering from dementia, while having a gripping mystery running in parallel. Loads i want to say about tge ending but i won't yet to avoid spoilers. Will post a question just before the day as it also contains spoilers

Congratulations to Emma for winning the Costa First Novel Award. Well deserved!

I found this book quite difficult to read at times. I have experience of dementia in my family and it brought up a lot of feelings for me. I stayed with it, though, and the mystery story plot drew me in.

My question: What research did you do to enable you to portray Maud's point of view so convincingly?

Happy New Year everyone...

A brilliant start to the year for our January author: winner of the Costa First Novel Award and voted third in the years best novels by Guardian readers. Have a look at this Guardian article for more info about Emma's success.

We can't wait to chat with Emma on Tuesday 27th - looking forward to seeing you all then.

STOP PRESS: As the Costa Award ceremony is taking place on Tuesday 27, Emma is now no longer able to join us that evening. We've therefore scheduled the webchat for he following date: Wednesday 28 January between 9 and 10pm. Get the date in your diary!

A wonderful book. Very readable and moving. Can't praise it highly enough. One of my favourites from last year.