The Vanishing Half never stumbles as it moves back and forth between decades and points of view, beginning with a seemingly external omniscient perspective that centres twins Desiree and Stella - or, at least, their absence - and opening out as it goes, and ultimately organised more around Desiree's daughter Jude more than any other individual, as well as the effects of racism, trauma and male violence.
I'd avoided it because the kick-off premise - two twins leading separate lives, one passing as white, the other living as Black - seemed too pat. But Bennett brings it to life and does much more with it besides.
