Set in a seemingly idyllic 1950s Brighton, Bethan Roberts’ My Policeman follows the story of school teacher Marion from teenager to a retired woman. Although the book opens with Marion’s narration, it switches between her perspective and Patrick’s, an art dealer who embodies poise and elegance on the exterior while harnessing secrets kept since youth. With time, readers learn how Marion and Patrick’s life intertwined thanks to their equal infatuation with the titular policeman, Tom.
Although My Policeman is in the romance genre, it is hard to see this book as just a love story. It could be better generalised as a heartbreakingly realistic life story, capturing the melancholy of reality when society is against you. Roberts intimately delves into the complex process of self-acceptance – whether that be recognising inner truths and feelings that are forcibly dismissed, or attempting to navigate a world determined to punish those who don’t subject themselves to societal expectations.
One of my favourite elements of the book was the choice of the setting of Brighton. Despite the city setting, the Brighton atmosphere so truthfully translated by Roberts makes readers feel at home in its surroundings, while slowly learning the hidden truths and intimate spots of this seaside city used as an escape from the prejudicial eyes of a society ready to attack.
The dual perspective and flashback format also build the characters and allow you to understand Marion and Patrick on what feels like a personal level. Despite this, I did find it difficult to sympathise with Marion at times compared to Patrick; it seems as if Roberts has deliberately made Marion a difficult-to-like character to make readers feel conflicted on how they perceive her. In comparison, the vivid reflection of Patrick’s elegant nature in his diary extracts made it difficult to not be fascinated by his work and thought process. Compared to Marion and Patrick, we do not hear directly from Tom. This choice also makes it hard to empathise with him or grow an emotional attachment to the character as a whole. Yet the internal debate readers may have on their judgement of the likability, or lack thereof, for each character produces a more realistic read.
This book has garnered popularity due to the movie adaptation releasing this autumn. The casting choice for Tom as famous singer Harry Styles has created a buzz around this story. Despite this excitement, there can be no ignoring the power this book has had already, prior to its famous casting choices and blockbuster movie deal. My Policeman is a cyclically heartbreaking and continuously gut-wrenching work, exploring through the dual perspectives of Marion and Patrick how each moment of their lives foregrounded what we soon learn lies ahead for their futures.
