Reviewed by Andrea Marks-Joseph for Independent Book Review.

Umbilical alternates between several perspectives—characters whose family histories intersect at the point of rescuing a baby from a chartered plane crash that had no records of its boarding—and also between two timelines: present day, and thirty years ago. It spans various countries across the globe, including Botswana, Canada, South Africa, Tanzania, and the USA. 

Author Jane Kay must be commended for making the reading experience of very specific timelines, new venues, and many characters absolutely seamless.  Umbilical is never intimidating or overwhelming. This novel pulls you in from the first page, gripping you with difficult realities, and never lets you go. 

Two elderly men who were involved in keeping a baby hidden thirty years ago are informed that the child (all grown up now, if it survived) is still in terrible danger. Ella and Werner—the children of these two strangers who briefly worked together for what they hoped was a good cause—have been asked to travel back to South Africa and retrace their fathers’ steps to find the child before the dangerous people get there first.  

This is the kind of story you’ll have to sit up and lean forward to read. While it’s easy to follow and is filled with fascinating, realistic, relatable characters, it’s simply too intriguing, exciting, and thrilling to sit back and relax. The broad plot is about identifying the baby and the truth behind the plane crash: Was this a kidnapping, or truly protecting a child from harm? Why did their fathers go through all this effort to keep the secret even now? Where do they begin to look for the child, who may not even know their history? How will they protect themselves and the vulnerable people who are being threatened? But there’s so much additional depth in the political, emotional, and familial aspects that you’re never lacking in twists, turns, and motives to question.  Read the full review here.

Umbilical is the rare novel that will capture and hold the attention of people across a wide range of age, race, and genders—and so it’s an excellent recommendation to give as a gift.