When Lemons Give You Life, by Anna Johnson

Griff Barlow was a Michelin-star chef who is now in the dementia ward of an aged care facility. His sad decline has been precipitated by the death of his husband and the end of his career following a food poisoning scandal. But Griff has a secret and the neglectful care and dreadful nutrition at the facility may just lead to its discovery. Regular flashbacks to Griff’s past, including his childhood, give an insight into the flawed adult he has become and the damaged relationship he has with his much younger half-sister. The plot elements that enable Griff to keep his secret for so long are ludicrously unlikely, but the deep heart and strong characterisation of the story make this easy to overlook. The ending has a bit too much exposition – the very important points about the need for dignity and respect in aged care have already been well and truly made. Ultimately the very clever title says it all.