Author: Mary Lawson

This is the fourth Lawson book I’ve read and this one was my favourite. Maybe it is because some of the characters were familiar names from other books, or maybe because it was the longest. The author’s stories aren’t complicated and her characters are people you might easily know or meet.

Arthur and Jake are brothers but they couldn’t be any different in personalities. Arthur, although he is forced to stay in school, would much rather be working the farm with his father. Jake will do almost anything to avoid work of any kind. When they are young men Jake suffers a terrible accident that Arthur blames himself for.

As with her other books there are three main characters; the third in this case is Ian who, many years later, has come to work with Arthur on the farm. When Jake reappears it sets in motion another series of events that lead to disastrous consequences.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

Author: Mary Lawson

This is another book where the author uses three main characters to tell the story. Edward, the father, has mainly removed himself from his family (his wife and eight children) by going to work and hiding in his study when he is at home. His eldest son, Tom, has a degree in aeronautical engineering but because of his depression over the suicide of a friend is currently driving a snowplough. Meg, his only daughter, has taken care of the family since she was a very young girl but has recently started a new life in England.

I can’t say this is a happy story but it seems quite real. I would have liked a different ending but I’m satisfied with what the author gave me.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

Author: Kate Quinn

All of the books I’ve read by Quinn have been about women involved in the war effort – spies, tracking down Nazi’s and this one – about women who worked decrypting messages from the enemy. I’d watched a Netflix show called Bletchley Park so the topic was familiar. It doesn’t matter how many shows I watch or how many books I read I will never understand how the messages were decrypted.

The story takes place in two time periods – 1940 when the women are working for the war effort and 1947 just before the wedding of Philip and Elizabeth. The story follows three main characters and their interactions – Mab, Osla and Beth.

It seemed odd that the story would hinge so much on the royal wedding but it turns out that one of the women who is portrayed was Phillip’s girlfriend during many of the war years. In real life they remained friends throughout their lives. I couldn’t help but picture Philip as he appeared in the first season of The Crown.

The ties with reality are amazing, as I found by reading the author’s notes. Although some of the characters in the book are amalgamations of several of the workers, two of the main characters are based on real women who worked at Bletchley Park. One of the characters mentioned in the book was Kate Middleton’s grandmother and in 2014 Kate opened the restored Bletchley Park Centre.

So much to love about this book.

Goodreads Rating: * * * * *

Author: Mary Lawson

I read another book by this author (Crow Lake) but I can’t seem to find a review; I know I liked it but I had more or less forgotten about following her newer books. It was Regan that put her back on my list.

The book is long listed for the Booker Prize. I often have trouble with their winners but this one would be an easy read.

The story is told from the point of view of three main characters – Elizabeth, Clara and Liam. Not all of their narratives are told in chronological order but it is in no way confusing. There are no dramatics, just a lovely story that might have a good or a terrible ending.

I have her other two books on order from the library.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *