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The Trouble with Goats and Sheep

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The Trouble with Goats and Sheep

By: Joanna Cannon
Narrated by: Paula Wilcox
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About this listen

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

‘Cannon is so attuned to other people’s stories… a chronicler both of the human condition and the quotidian details which speak to who we are’ GUARDIAN

‘A very special book’ NATHAN FILER
‘A delight’ PAULA HAWKINS
‘One of the standout novels of the year’ HANNAH BECKERMAN
‘I didn't want the book to end’ CARYS BRAY
‘An excellent debut’ JAMES HANNAH
‘Grace and Tilly are my new heroes’ KATE HAMER
‘A wonderful debut’ JILL MANSELL
‘A modern classic in the making’ SARAH HILARY
‘A stunning debut’ KATIE FFORDE
‘Phenomenal’ MIRANDA DICKINSON

England,1976.

Mrs Creasy is missing and The Avenue is alive with whispers. As the summer shimmers endlessly on, ten-year-olds Grace and Tilly decide to take matters into their own hands.

And as the cul-de-sac starts giving up its secrets, the amateur detectives will find much more than they imagined…

©2015 Joanna Cannon (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Coming of Age Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literature & Fiction Small Town & Rural Suspense Thriller & Suspense Heartfelt Feel-Good Mystery

Critic reviews

"Part whodunnit, part coming of age, this is a gripping debut about the secrets behind every door." (Rachel Joyce)

"An utter delight. Perceptive, funny, dark, moving. And so beautifully written. I loved it." (Sarah Winman)

"A haunting, perceptive novel about the price of belonging. It's a treasure chest of a novel and I loved it very much." (Julie Cohen)

All stars
Most relevant
Lovely narrating of a good story. You feel as if you get to know people as the story goes on and it does draw you into a long hot summer. But I never understood quite what the plot was about other than a lady going missing , I felt that the end was unclear and some chapters felt as if they dragged along . It wasn't a book that I could pick up and put down easy without having to go back to be able to remember what happened the last time I was listening .

Enjoyable but

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This book was worth reading just to be transported back to a very vivid 1976. Brilliant characters, people and voices I knew from my past.
Meticulous attention to details of the time.
A wonderful, heart-warming tale, skillfully brought to life by Paula Wilcox. This story will make you laugh out loud, sympathise, and marvel at the extraordinary found in the ordinary of neighbours and the dynamics of the relationships in 'The Avenue'.
Highly recommended.

Best Read So Far This Year

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Chose this because I’d listened to Joanne’s other book The Three Things about Elsie.(so beautiful).
Huge expectations and I must admit I did struggle at the beginning. However having read the other reviews I carried on and soon got immersed in the lives of the people on this street. Being able to find out what happens behind doors and then how neighbours come together is written so well.
Set against the mid 70s which has a lot of nostalgia.
Beautifully narrated, beautifully written and a lovely story about people’s lives

A journey in to peoples lives

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The descriptive prose is beautifully done, often bringing a smile of recognition. At first I listened in short bursts and it was hard to get a grip of the characters. The chapter dates are sometimes important but easily missed in audio. But it rings true and is thought provoking.

Enjoyable descriptive writing.

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I was a teenager in 1976 and this book has brought back many happy memories. I'm sure the story will stay with me and make me think about 'goats' and our attitude towards them.

1976 revisited

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