My first review of 2023 is The Secrets of Rochester Place by Iris Costello…
One of the gems from my Christmas stack that straddled the old and the new year. This book ticked all the right boxes for me, unusual premise, well developed characters to love (and hate!) and a narrative that teases and makes you think.
Corrine is a first responder who takes a call from Mary pleading for help rescuing a child. She duly sends emergency vehicles but, when they get there, there’s nothing to see, just a back alley. No house burning, no sign of anything but rubbish. Has Corrine been prank called, or has the past somehow reached out to her?
The story unfolds using snippets of the lives of 3 women spanning the period from the 1920s to the present day. Books which jump around in time can sometimes feel disjointed and be hard to follow, but the author deftly leads you through their lives, with each interlude revealing more and keeping you invested in the outcome.
For fans of historical fiction this book will score highly, it covers Ireland in the era of the Easter Rising , the impact of the Spanish Civil War and World War 2 and reveals parallels with life today.It is clearly well researched and the historical elements are introduced in a natural way. The characters all have a distinct voice that reflects their lived experiences and makes you see how the world around them impacts their lives. Bigotry in all its forms is a common thread in the lives of the three main protagonists. This could make you feel despair that nothing much has changed, but somehow this story made me feel uplifted, that people do have the capacity to become more tolerant and that the future is brighter.
I don’t do spoilers, but suffice it to say that you won’t be disappointed in how the story resolves itself. I loved how this book made me feel, although I felt more than a little bereft afterwards in the way you are when something good is over!
A resounding 👍 from me.
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