Richard & Judy Introduce The Herd by Emily Edwards

Timely and deeply compelling. Elizabeth’s young daughter is medically vulnerable so to protect her she insists her friends are fully vaccinated. Bryony is Elizabeth’s best friend but because of a family tragedy she hides her true feelings about her own daughter’s vaccinations. Her secrecy leads to catastrophic consequences. A gripping, thought-provoking read.

Judy's Review:

How do you feel about childhood vaccinations?

Are they essential to protect society from debilitating, sometimes fatal, diseases? Or should parents have the absolute right to decide what’s right for their particular child?

The whole issue of vaccination has never been more timely after the global pandemic, and although this gripping novel isn’t about Covid, the big moral issues of individual choice versus a wider social responsibility are always with us.

We’ve recently heard so much about “herd immunity” and Emily Edwards’ book, called simply THE HERD, takes a fascinating look at how a deep family friendship is destroyed when two women, the best of friends and godmothers to each other’s daughters, find themselves on opposite sides of the vaccination argument. Secrecy and an unwillingness to be frank leads to catastrophic consequences.

Which side will you be on.

Richard's Review:

Elizabeth and Bryony have been best friends for years. They’re very different: Elizabeth is intensely organised, efficient and bossy; Bryony is artistic, hippy-dippy and laissez faire - in fact, her friend’s complete opposite, and yet they’re close. Edwards writes that they’re not so much chalk and cheese as cheese and pineapple - an odd combination, but somehow it works.

Elizabeth is a strong, didactic wife and mother, and her chief worry is the health of her daughter Clemmie, who had convulsions as a baby and is therefore unable to have the normal early childhood vaccinations. Elizabeth guards Clemmie fiercely, and when she plans a birthday party sends emails to all parents insisting that any children who attend must be vaccinated, to protect her little girl.

Bryony, unconfrontational and dreading a row, has allowed her friend to assume that her own daughter, Alba, is vaccinated. But Bryony’s older brother is severely autistic, and her mother blames vaccinations for his condition.

The party goes ahead, and the consequences are terrible, resulting in a devastating court case.

This is a powerfully emotional book, which will resonate with all parents. Its timing is spot on, and if you’re part of a Book Club THE HERD will stimulate some passionate conversations! Enjoy.