I’m beyond delighted to welcome back the hugely talented Claire Dyer to Linda’s Book Bag. You’ll find Claire’s other visits here. Claire is one of those writer whose work is exquisite and simply doesn’t get enough attention. With her latest book just published on 25th January, I simply had to invite Claire to stay in with me to chat all about it.

Let’s find out more:

Staying in with Claire Dyer

Welcome back to Linda’s Book Bag Claire and thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to be here!

I rather think I know, but tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

I’ve brought along my latest novel, What We Thought We Knew, and I’ve chosen it because although it’s only just been published, it’s actually been a project close to my heart since I first wrote it twelve years ago, and one which has grown even closer during the rewriting process during lockdown and my parents’ last illnesses.

What can we expect from an evening in with What We Thought We Knew?

What I hope the book will bring with it a lively discussion on how honest couples and friends are with one another and whether it’s possible to keep someone else’s secret. I mean we all spend time with our friends and loved ones and think we know each other and they know us, but everyone has a secret or secrets buried somewhere inside them.

That sounds fascinating Claire. I think we never know quite what goes on in other people’s lives.

This novel explores what happens when a hidden truth is eventually revealed. As the very lovely author Clare Boyd has said, the book is ‘A beautifully observed novel about friendship and loss.’

You must be thrilled with that description.

It would also be fun to chat about the mad decision I made to write the novel from ten points of view!

Pardon? Ten? Now I HAVE to read What We Thought We Knew as soon as possible to see how that works…

What else have you brought along and why have you brought it?

I have obviously brought wine (I think my father should have given me a middle name of Chablis instead of Amanda!) as the three female leads in the book have their Friday nights in with wine and food while their husbands go to the pub!

Ah – well you can all have the wine as it always makes me ill. I might just crack open the cherry brandy tonight!

I’ve also brought along my Barry Manilow LP, Ultimate Manilow, in the hope you have a turntable and we can have a sing-along!

I think there’s an old one in the loft. I’ll send Dr H up to find it so we can belt out a few tunes in celebration of What We Thought We Knew.

I’d also love for my sister to come with me. She’s simply the best sister I could wish for and has been my biggest supporter during my writing life and is often, after my wonderful agent, my very first reader!

She sounds very special indeed Claire and is most welcome. It’s been lovely staying in with you.

Now, you get Barry out and pour yourself a glass of wine and I’ll give readers a few more details about What We Thought We Knew.

What We Thought We Knew

Four children, three marriages, two secrets, and one unfathomable tragedy: the families at numbers two, four and six Penwood Heights are connected by work, friendship, the loss of a child and a secret truth which has sat in the bedrock of their lives for years.

In the centre of this tight-knit group is Faith, who believes her job is to act as a paperweight, keeping them all safe. And she does this until someone from her past reappears and threatens to sabotage everything.

And, as the pieces fall, these families, these friends, realise that what they thought they knew about one another was nothing more than make-believe.

They also discover that trust is illusory and for Faith, at least, that keeping other people’s secrets can be more dangerous than keeping our own.

‘A beautifully observed novel about friendship and loss. I delighted in Dyer’s prose, which evokes the nuance and depth of the human experience with a light, poetic touch. The thread of sadness running through the characters’ stories broke my heart.’ Clare Boyd

Published by Vanguard Press on 25th January 2024, What We Thought We Knew is available for purchase here.

About Claire Dyer

Claire Dyer’s novels The Moment and The Perfect Affair, and her short story, Falling For Gatsby, are published by Quercus. The Last Day is published by The Dome Press.

Her poetry collections, Interference Effects, Eleven Rooms and Yield are published by Two Rivers Press. Claire’s The Significant Others of Odie May was published by Matador and her forthcoming poetry collection, The Adjustments will be published by Two Rivers Press. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway, University of London.

You can follow Claire on Twitter/X @ClaireDyer1 and visit her website. You’ll also find Claire on Facebook and Instagram.