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The Facts of Life by Graham Joyce, Gollancz, pounds 12.99. War - even just the thought of it - makes people do mad things. And it makes 'mad' people do madder things. Graham Joyce's Vine family, around whom his novel revolves, are a case in point.
The lead character, Cassie Vine, possesses a 'gift', hereditary psychic powers which have affected most of her family in one way or another. Mother Martha is in denial, even when she foresees her son- in-law's return from the Second World War the week before he actually staggers in through the door. Evelyn and Ina, the twins, are practising members of a spiritualist church and regularly converse with the dead. Beatie, the educated one, has had all thoughts of spirituality rationalised out of her by learning. But it is Cassie, the seventh child, who is most affected.
During the course of the book her actions, which are variously...