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Title: The Atlas of Us

Author: Tracy Buchanan

Narrator: Melody Grove, Maggie Mash

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-31-14

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

How far would you go for the one you love the most?

A stormy love affair. A secret. A discovery that changes everything

Louise Fenton flies to a devastated Thailand to search for her mother, missing following the Boxing Day tsunami. The only trace she can find is her mother's distinctive bag. Inside it is a beautifully crafted atlas belonging to a writer named Claire Shreve. But what is the connection between Claire and Louise's missing mum, and can the atlas help Louise find her?

As Louise explores the notes and mementoes slipped between the pages of the atlas she learns the story of a life-changing revelation, a tragedy and a passionate love affair. And she uncovers a secret that nearly destroyed Claire and the man she loved - the same secret her mother has been guarding all these years

Members Reviews:

Not exactly the story I expected, but still not bad

** spoiler alert ** Pulling inspiration from details of the real life 2004 tsunami that devastated Thailand (as well as several other countries), Buchanan crafts a story about a daughter trying to find answers to the disappearance of her estranged mother, Nora. Louise Fenton hasn't spoken to her mother in several years, not since an argument that escalated surprisingly fast, causing them both to fall into silent treatment with each other since. Now Louise has gotten word that her mother was in Thailand when the tsunami hit, so Louise jumps on the first flight available to try to find her mother -- either to reunite and make peace, or to possibly identify the body. Louise is directed toward a body that matches how she described her mother. While there are similarities, something doesn't seem quite right.... especially when a man crumples over the body crying about "Claire." When Louise inquires about this Claire, what the man tells her ends up sending her on a quest -- as she now has to question that maybe this body is NOT her mother -- to once again seek out her mother's whereabouts and how Claire came to have Nora's belongings (a satchel containing an atlas full of personal letters, photos and other ephemera) on her person.

This essentially makes up the first few chapters. From that point, the storyline flip-flops back and forth between Louise in 2004 and the story of Claire, mostly taking place in the mid-late 1990s. Claire works as a travel writer and a co-editor of a travel magazine. Trying to emotionally regroup after her husband admits to not having his heart in their marriage anymore, Claire takes a writing assignment in Exmoor (UK) where she's working on a piece about a B & B in Exmoor, and its surrounding attractions. Claire strikes up a friendship with Milo, whose odd family owns & operates the B & B. Claire is having a lovely time for a few days until one night when a wedding being held at the inn goes horribly wrong, violence and gunfire breaking out. Milo, having developed feelings for Claire in their short time together, insists she flee the scene before police arrive. Claire reluctantly does leave, going back to the security of her safe if distracted, somewhat inattentive husband. Doesn't work that well though. She can't get Milo or the events of that night out of her mind. Now she has to admit that she's the one with her heart not in her marriage.