sophiazanarotti's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
elliemcc11's review against another edition
4.0
A very solid 4* read. And again a story set in the Cold War (probably my favourite historical period of recent history). This is a novel about secrets.
The story opens with a woman, a wife and mother, burying a suitcase in her garden. It's a suitcase her husband was sent to retrieve from a colleague / friend's house. There are secrets inside which need to remain hidden. Her husband had to decide whether to take the briefcase back to his office (which would ultimately mean he would be implicated in questionable behaviour) but instead decides to take it home. His wife, curious when she finds the suitcase hidden behind the wellies, realises the contents are very serious hence her actions.
The character development is very good - Lily, the woman in question, was a Jewish child refugee escaping Berlin in WW2 and had her secrets to hide. Her husband is hiding his friend Giles' suitcase/briefcase but their relationship has a much more involved history, again there are secrets to hide.
This was my first novel by Helen Dunmore and I'll be adding her others to my TBR list. The story had a good pace, relatively plausible ending, and good character development.
The story opens with a woman, a wife and mother, burying a suitcase in her garden. It's a suitcase her husband was sent to retrieve from a colleague / friend's house. There are secrets inside which need to remain hidden. Her husband had to decide whether to take the briefcase back to his office (which would ultimately mean he would be implicated in questionable behaviour) but instead decides to take it home. His wife, curious when she finds the suitcase hidden behind the wellies, realises the contents are very serious hence her actions.
The character development is very good - Lily, the woman in question, was a Jewish child refugee escaping Berlin in WW2 and had her secrets to hide. Her husband is hiding his friend Giles' suitcase/briefcase but their relationship has a much more involved history, again there are secrets to hide.
This was my first novel by Helen Dunmore and I'll be adding her others to my TBR list. The story had a good pace, relatively plausible ending, and good character development.
spencerablackwell's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
fateleanor's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
millysleep's review
4.0
I loved the parallels with The Railway Children. The father playing with the train before he is arrested, the arrival of the mother and children at the cottage and the very final scene. A very cleverly and carefully crafted book with excellent characterisation particularly of Lily and Giles.
snoakes7001's review
5.0
Helen Dunmore is always worth reading and this time, her subject is a cold-war spy ring. However, this isn't a traditional thriller with a mind-bendingly complex plot. Instead the story centres on Simon and his family and the devastating effects on them of his being accused of spying for the Russians. Simon works in the Admiralty, and when a confidential file goes missing, suspicion falls on him. As a teacher, his wife Lily finds her position increasingly difficult and she resorts to moving the family to the countryside. It's a deceptively simple story, beautifully told. Admittedly, some of the characters are a little stereotypical, but Simon, Lily and their increasing resourceful and resilient children are tenderly drawn. As it reaches its conclusion, despite being low-key and understated, this novel becomes a real page turner.
jeannelovesbooks's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kittyp3777's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
purplefish101's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
andrew61's review
4.0
A very enjoyable read about spying in the early 1960's a time when paranoia was rife in Britain about reds under the bed following scandals such as Philby Burgess and Maclean.
The story is a very domestic one as we meet the Callington family, Simon is an official in the admiralty and lives with his wife Lily and their three young children in London Suburbia. A late night phone call from Simon's colleague and old university friend draws Simon unwittingly into espionage and he ends up as the victim of a misjustice.
I won't say more as the plot moves on and the writing is very atmospheric evoking images of steam trains, coal fires , foggy nights and as we learn more of Lily and Simon's history the overshadowing memory of the war.
I was gripped right to the very end and ultimately this is a simple story beautifully told.
The story is a very domestic one as we meet the Callington family, Simon is an official in the admiralty and lives with his wife Lily and their three young children in London Suburbia. A late night phone call from Simon's colleague and old university friend draws Simon unwittingly into espionage and he ends up as the victim of a misjustice.
I won't say more as the plot moves on and the writing is very atmospheric evoking images of steam trains, coal fires , foggy nights and as we learn more of Lily and Simon's history the overshadowing memory of the war.
I was gripped right to the very end and ultimately this is a simple story beautifully told.