Next of Kin cover art

Next of Kin

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Next of Kin

By: Joanna Trollope
Narrated by: Eleanor Bron
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About this listen

Dairy farmer Robin Meredith has just buried his Californian wife Caro who, though a central figure at the farm for more than twenty years, had remained a mystery to the family. With Caro gone, her adopted daughter Judy feels cut adrift. To Robin’s brother, Joe, Caro had been the emblem of a freedom he’d glimpsed in America and his grief is far deeper than the family suspects. Even Robin and Joe’s parents, entrenched in the adjoining farm, feel suddenly vulnerable to time and change as well.

Into their midst comes Judy’s friend Zoe, whose disturbing directness becomes a catalyst for change…. Read by Eleanor Bron.

©1996 Joanna Trollope (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Genre Fiction Psychological Fiction Suspense Mystery

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All stars
Most relevant
The topic of male mental health is one of the themes, which is surprisingly current. The book explores rural living for men and women in the 1990s. I think the female role may have changed since the 1990s but I recognise the dilemmas facing generations of the women

The narration is excellent and one of the best performances I have come across. The story has its sad moments but neither the author nor the narrator milk the sad scenarios.

I have to say that the characters within the story are not particularly appealing but their dilemmas are realistic. The role of the outsider within the close community as catalyst for positive change is key, but I felt quite hostile towards this character so did not really commit to the plot.

Surprisingly Current

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I normally admire the way Trollope explores how characters develop during human dilemmas. But this is dire. Grief piled on grief - I read on in the hopes that there would be some resolution, but there was just a nod at this towards the very end. I would advise anyone suffering from depression and/or bereavement to steer clear of this one.

Unremitting gloom

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Really struggled to finish this and felt so down throughout. No plot, little story - just a monologue of misery and misfortune endured by a damaged and dysfunctional farming family.
I tried returning it half way through, but was unable to as I (thankfully) hadn't purchased it with a credit. If you enjoy a good plot and a book to hold your interest, don't buy this book!!

Dreadful, miserable book

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I am a big fan of Joanna Trollope and I have read so many of her books that going for this did not seem to be anything more than a dead cert. However,it was 9hrs and 36minutes of soul destroying, depressing, dreary, heavyweight dross. I found myself becoming more and more depressed as it went on...by the end I felt almost suicidal myself!! Surely not the aim? So disappointing for such a talented writer.

Ugh....so depressing

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