The year is 1912, and the Darlingtons of Wentworth Hall are a rich family who are going through some problems at the moment. The financial ones are bad enough, as are the secrets kept by various family members and servants, but it's the Sussex Courier column which seems to be based on the household which is the final straw. Will all of their mysteries finally be exposed? Who on earth could be responsible for writing it? The groom who wants to be more than a servant to the family's beautiful elder daughter, the French nanny with a secret, the new visitors who have riches of their own, or someone else entirely?
| Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame | |
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| Category: Teens | |
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Reviewer: Robert James
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| Summary: Good description of life in an English stately home in the 1910's can't overcome dreadfully bland characters here. | |
| Buy? No | Borrow? No |
| Pages: 288 | Date: July 2012 |
| Publisher: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books | |
| ISBN: 978-0857079169 | |
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This is serviceable enough as a novel, I suppose, but it's just all rather dull. The satirical newspaper columns seem to be an effort to turn it into a historical version of the Gossip Girl novels, but those books were ten times as exciting as this is. Also, these parts outstay their welcome somewhat, dragging on for ten pages or so each in most cases (and it feels like more!) although they at least have the merit of being written in a reasonably entertaining style. The rest of the book, on the other hand, is merely functional prose about vapid characters who I couldn't bring myself to care about. There are a couple of big plot twists which should have left me shocked, but raised barely a shrug of my shoulders because everyone involved is so bland that it's hard for their actions to provoke any interest.
On the plus side the descriptions of the time period are good and made me feel as if I was back in 1912 - I just wish I'd been there with some more interesting characters! Right down to the tagline And you thought there were secrets at the abbey this feels like it's been released to cash in on the success of TV series Downton Abbey rather than on its own merits.
Not recommended.
For another tale set in the early 20th century, which I was rather more impressed by, check out The Flappers: Vixen by Jillian Larkin.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame at Amazon.com.
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