Reviews by Rebecca

As with Wolf Hall I will also be reading the printed novel, but have thoroughly enjoyed this narrated edition. Simon very clearly chills down Cromwell's voice as he interrogates Anne's "lovers" and elicits ambiguous confessions. I was there in the room with them. Hilary has addressed the problem within Wolf Hall in that you didn't always know who she meant by "he", by changing it in this novel to "he, Cromwell". This is a novel, like Wolf Hall, which I shall keep on my mp3 to dip into again and again.

I'm sorry but i just never got the hang of this one. Not David Thorpe's fault although I was often unsure which Martha was which. I didn't listen to the end. Did anything ever happen?

Fabulous story, well paced and well read by Jonathan. Has got those twists and sharp intake of breath moments.

Oh this was such a disappointment. I had so enjoyed the Evans/Rillington Place trial.This falls down because Ruth Ellis seemed paralysed with fear and the judge was deaf. Using the actual transcripts of the trial seemed to squeeze any drama or suspense out of the whole story. And did everyone in 1955 speak with such clipped accents?

I could have screamed at Roseanne for the way she allowed every man to control her life but actually her character stayed true throughout the book and sometimes even content at the smallest joys. And yes, Helenbunter it does seem farfetched for a woman to wait 8 years to find out her fate but this only goes to show the absolute power of the catholic church and it's priests in Ireland during this period. After all , how do you hide years of abuse? With total control over your unquestioning flock. A great book with many wonderful lyrical passages and descriptions of Sligo.

Oh, I so loved this book, I didn't want it to end. I thought it was going to be a straight retelling of the family dynasty, but it's so much more. The whole social upheaval of the pre and post first world war years were new to me and the way Catherine Bailey weaves the story delicately from working class to aristocracy, from miners and their emerging unions to government was pure joy. Don't be put off by thinking it will be a heavy tome. Just when you have reached the limit of government shenanigans against poorly paid miners, Catherine sneaks back to the Wentworth intrigues, hints of illegitimate children, destroyed marriage lines... and poor Kick Kennedy's dreadful hardline mother. This book kept me running on the treadmill so long , it should be on prescription from your doctor for it's calorie burning potential.