A review by jajorgen
Farthing by Jo Walton
5.0
I read this one for my mystery book group and spent hours thinking about the book after I closed the cover. Farthing is classified as an alternate history but reads more as a historical mystery/suspense novel.
The time is 1949 and England has settled into a peaceful period though Hitler reigns across the Channel. In 1941 England signed a truce with Hitler - he gets the continent, though he's still at war with Russia - and Britain is left alone. Though they've escaped domination by Germany, the British have not escaped the creeping danger of fascism as is evident at the house party being held at Farthing.
What follows seems like a classic British manor house mystery. Someone is killed and the suspect is amongst the guests at Farthing. But in reality the suspense comes from the politics of the time and the danger to the only Jewish member of the household, David Kahn who married the daughter of the manor.
Walton builds the tension fabulously and leaves the reader unsure of who makes it out. Her detective has secrets of his own the people in power will use them to take him down if he doesn't do what they ask.
Nicely done - and everyone in the book group loved it too. I've already gotten the sequel, Ha'Penny, but will hold off on reading it until I'm in the right mindset.
The time is 1949 and England has settled into a peaceful period though Hitler reigns across the Channel. In 1941 England signed a truce with Hitler - he gets the continent, though he's still at war with Russia - and Britain is left alone. Though they've escaped domination by Germany, the British have not escaped the creeping danger of fascism as is evident at the house party being held at Farthing.
What follows seems like a classic British manor house mystery. Someone is killed and the suspect is amongst the guests at Farthing. But in reality the suspense comes from the politics of the time and the danger to the only Jewish member of the household, David Kahn who married the daughter of the manor.
Walton builds the tension fabulously and leaves the reader unsure of who makes it out. Her detective has secrets of his own the people in power will use them to take him down if he doesn't do what they ask.
Nicely done - and everyone in the book group loved it too. I've already gotten the sequel, Ha'Penny, but will hold off on reading it until I'm in the right mindset.