A Way Through the Woods

An eye-opening autobiography about a young woman growing up in the Home Counties during the post-war boom. On the way, Susie survives domestic abuse as a farmer’s wife and young mother, before a brave new start and reinvention of herself as a police officer in London. The elements within the journey twist and turn recording everyday experiences with humour and tragedy balanced in equal measure. Susie grew up with a father who lost his sight when she was six, and his guide dog, Sally became her childhood companion. Sally shared the daily exploits with Susie and her childhood friends running feral like excited puppies. Becoming a teenage mother and marrying into the farming life brings with it many adventures including the struggle to keep her family fed on an impossible budget. Finally, her determination to become an officer of the law leads the reader by the hand into the world of policing the capital. The ribbon that threads through the story is tremendously entertaining and told with a great sense of fun. This truly is a ’poacher to gamekeeper’ journey.