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2.95 AVERAGE
2.95 AVERAGE
Wasn't a fan. Definitely was expecting more from this novel. The synopsis *sounded* interesting, but it failed to keep my attention. I wish Ellen and Mary had been featured more (they basically were the title, after all).
Rec'd arc from Netgalley
Rec'd arc from Netgalley
Not what I expected, but it turned out to be a very “me” kind of book. Excellent.
Thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
The Secret Guests is a difficult one to review because it wasn’t at all what I expected. I generally like going into books blind, and I didn’t realize this was an alternative history until I started reading it. It is a well-known fact that the princesses stayed in England at Windsor Castle during the war.
Once I realized this wasn’t real history I attempted to read it for the story—which fell flat for me. It didn’t hold my attention, it lacked emotion and I didn’t care for any of the characters.
The writing style reminded me of an older detective novel. I do think that this will be interest a certain audience. The author won the Man Booker Prize in 2005, so if you are interested it may be worth reading or at least checking out at the library.
The Secret Guests is a difficult one to review because it wasn’t at all what I expected. I generally like going into books blind, and I didn’t realize this was an alternative history until I started reading it. It is a well-known fact that the princesses stayed in England at Windsor Castle during the war.
Once I realized this wasn’t real history I attempted to read it for the story—which fell flat for me. It didn’t hold my attention, it lacked emotion and I didn’t care for any of the characters.
The writing style reminded me of an older detective novel. I do think that this will be interest a certain audience. The author won the Man Booker Prize in 2005, so if you are interested it may be worth reading or at least checking out at the library.
I was fascinated by the blurb but unfortunately the story didn't met my expectations. It's well written but quite slow and I couldn't connect to the characters.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
As part of Germany’s attempt to destroy British war industry during World War II, German bombers dropped thousands of bombs on London and the country’s other key industrial and port cities. The concentrated bombing campaign that began in 1940 and ended in 1941 would ultimately see the destruction of more than one million homes and 20,000 civilian deaths in London alone. Roughly ten percent of those killed during the London Blitz were children despite the fact that hundreds of thousands of children were evacuated from the city. B.W. Black’s The Secret Guests wonders what it would have been like if the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret had been among those children sent to safer ground.
In this alternate history of events, not only are Elizabeth and Margaret evacuated from London, they are sent to Ireland - where they face a different kind of danger - rather than to a country like Canada where they would have been completely safe. The problem, of course, is that getting the girls safely to Canada is much more dangerous than getting them to “neutral” Ireland. Even as World War II progresses, the 1919-1921 Irish War of Independence (resulting in the creation of Northern Ireland and all of the problems to come from that partition) is still very much a factor in the relationship between Ireland and Britain. That Ireland has declared herself neutral in the war between Germany and Britain does not necessarily mean that the majority of the country’s citizens are secretly rooting for Britain to prevail. No, for their own political purposes, there are plenty in Ireland who would love to get their hands on the young princesses – and they are willing to kill to get them.
Elizabeth (age 14) and Margaret (age 10) arrive at the remote estate belonging to the Duke of Edenmore not knowing what to expect. By the time of their arrival, the girls have learned to answer to the names Emily and Mary but they are a little taken aback by the physical state of the large old house in which the Duke lives alone with his staff of servants. Joining the girls is newly minted British secret agent Celia Nashe, who is on her very first assignment, and a young Irish cop, Detective Garda Strafford. Before long, the girls and their protectors have resigned themselves to a routine of horseback riding, reading whatever is on hand or available in the village’s small library, quiet meals together, early bedtimes, and general solitude. The only one of them able to maintain much of a spark is young Margaret – who spies on everyone constantly and has a better grasp of what is really going on around her than any of the adults there.
But boredom breeds complacency, and in this case, complacency breeds danger.
Bottom Line: B.W. Black (pseudonym for Irish novelist John Banville) offers something here a bit different from the spate of World War II fiction of the past few months. Interestingly, the bulk of The Secret Guests is spent exploring everyday life on the estate and how the royal princesses settle into the dullness of their new world as they learn more about those secluded there with them. Black presents Elizabeth and Margaret as children already clearly exhibiting the personalities that would later define them as adults. Elizabeth is seen as aloof and proper; Margaret as impetuous and adventuress. As such, Margaret, the youngest person in the story, is often its driving force.
Review Copy provided by Henry Holt and Company
In this alternate history of events, not only are Elizabeth and Margaret evacuated from London, they are sent to Ireland - where they face a different kind of danger - rather than to a country like Canada where they would have been completely safe. The problem, of course, is that getting the girls safely to Canada is much more dangerous than getting them to “neutral” Ireland. Even as World War II progresses, the 1919-1921 Irish War of Independence (resulting in the creation of Northern Ireland and all of the problems to come from that partition) is still very much a factor in the relationship between Ireland and Britain. That Ireland has declared herself neutral in the war between Germany and Britain does not necessarily mean that the majority of the country’s citizens are secretly rooting for Britain to prevail. No, for their own political purposes, there are plenty in Ireland who would love to get their hands on the young princesses – and they are willing to kill to get them.
Elizabeth (age 14) and Margaret (age 10) arrive at the remote estate belonging to the Duke of Edenmore not knowing what to expect. By the time of their arrival, the girls have learned to answer to the names Emily and Mary but they are a little taken aback by the physical state of the large old house in which the Duke lives alone with his staff of servants. Joining the girls is newly minted British secret agent Celia Nashe, who is on her very first assignment, and a young Irish cop, Detective Garda Strafford. Before long, the girls and their protectors have resigned themselves to a routine of horseback riding, reading whatever is on hand or available in the village’s small library, quiet meals together, early bedtimes, and general solitude. The only one of them able to maintain much of a spark is young Margaret – who spies on everyone constantly and has a better grasp of what is really going on around her than any of the adults there.
But boredom breeds complacency, and in this case, complacency breeds danger.
Bottom Line: B.W. Black (pseudonym for Irish novelist John Banville) offers something here a bit different from the spate of World War II fiction of the past few months. Interestingly, the bulk of The Secret Guests is spent exploring everyday life on the estate and how the royal princesses settle into the dullness of their new world as they learn more about those secluded there with them. Black presents Elizabeth and Margaret as children already clearly exhibiting the personalities that would later define them as adults. Elizabeth is seen as aloof and proper; Margaret as impetuous and adventuress. As such, Margaret, the youngest person in the story, is often its driving force.
Review Copy provided by Henry Holt and Company
The Secret Guests tells the story of the evacuation from London during the blitz of the royal princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret. In a remarkably poorly managed evacuation, the girls are sent to the estate of a distant relative under the guard of inexperienced and politically suspect bodyguards. The two girls, raised to be “royal” and thus stoic in the advent of unpleasant circumstances, are still just little girls.
I suspect this story was largely historically accurate, and as such it was an interesting look behind the royal curtain. Although believable, the characters were unfortunately unlikeable, and I consequently lost some interest in their story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I suspect this story was largely historically accurate, and as such it was an interesting look behind the royal curtain. Although believable, the characters were unfortunately unlikeable, and I consequently lost some interest in their story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
From BBC Radio 4:
Episode 1 of 10
In 1940, at the height of Blitz, the two young princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are secretly evacuated from Buckingham Palace for their own safety and sent to an isolated rural estate in neutral Ireland. However Clonmillis Hall may prove to be even more dangerous than wartime London…
Irish police detective Strafford has been assigned to watch over the girls during their stay and so must form an uneasy alliance with their governess Miss Celia Nashe, an undercover MI5 officer charged with the princesses’ safety. However, with a contingent of soldiers patrolling the woods and rumours of IRA terrorists in the vicinity, they soon find their task even more treacherous than expected. But is the real threat from outside, or from within Clonmillis Hall itself?
An imagined historical adventure and enthralling mystery, as read by Sorcha Cusack (BBC’s Father Brown).
Episode 2 of 10
MI5 agent Miss Celia Nashe escorts “Ellen” and “Mary” to Ireland.
Episode 3 of 10
Strafford and Celia explore the Duke of Edenmore’s estate.
Episode 4 of 10
Celia and Strafford reach an understanding.
Episode 5 of 10
An intruder is apprehended at Clonmillis Hall.
Episode 6 of 10
Billy Denton discovers an injured Ellen.
Episode 7 of 10
Death comes to Clonmillis Hall.
Episode 8 of 10
Strafford and Celia investigate Billy Denton.
Episode 9 of 10
Clancy’s dangerous guests decide to visit Clonmillis Hall.
Episode 10 of 10
Clonmillis Hall is under attack.
Writer
B.W. Black is the pen name of acclaimed Irish author John Banville. He is the author of several novels, including The Sea, which won the 2005 Man Booker Prize. In 2013 he was awarded the Irish PEN Award for Outstanding Achievement in Irish Literature. He has published a number of crime novels, most featuring Quirke (an Irish pathologist based in Dublin) which were adapted into a TV series starring Gabriel Byrne.
Author, B.W. Black
Abridger, Neville Teller
Reader, Sorcha Cusack
Producer, Michael Shannon
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000f6t1
Episode 1 of 10
In 1940, at the height of Blitz, the two young princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are secretly evacuated from Buckingham Palace for their own safety and sent to an isolated rural estate in neutral Ireland. However Clonmillis Hall may prove to be even more dangerous than wartime London…
Irish police detective Strafford has been assigned to watch over the girls during their stay and so must form an uneasy alliance with their governess Miss Celia Nashe, an undercover MI5 officer charged with the princesses’ safety. However, with a contingent of soldiers patrolling the woods and rumours of IRA terrorists in the vicinity, they soon find their task even more treacherous than expected. But is the real threat from outside, or from within Clonmillis Hall itself?
An imagined historical adventure and enthralling mystery, as read by Sorcha Cusack (BBC’s Father Brown).
Episode 2 of 10
MI5 agent Miss Celia Nashe escorts “Ellen” and “Mary” to Ireland.
Episode 3 of 10
Strafford and Celia explore the Duke of Edenmore’s estate.
Episode 4 of 10
Celia and Strafford reach an understanding.
Episode 5 of 10
An intruder is apprehended at Clonmillis Hall.
Episode 6 of 10
Billy Denton discovers an injured Ellen.
Episode 7 of 10
Death comes to Clonmillis Hall.
Episode 8 of 10
Strafford and Celia investigate Billy Denton.
Episode 9 of 10
Clancy’s dangerous guests decide to visit Clonmillis Hall.
Episode 10 of 10
Clonmillis Hall is under attack.
Writer
B.W. Black is the pen name of acclaimed Irish author John Banville. He is the author of several novels, including The Sea, which won the 2005 Man Booker Prize. In 2013 he was awarded the Irish PEN Award for Outstanding Achievement in Irish Literature. He has published a number of crime novels, most featuring Quirke (an Irish pathologist based in Dublin) which were adapted into a TV series starring Gabriel Byrne.
Author, B.W. Black
Abridger, Neville Teller
Reader, Sorcha Cusack
Producer, Michael Shannon
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000f6t1
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt Books for a free digital copy that I read in partnership with the audio.
I was very excited about the premise of this book. The Princesses of England squirreled away to Ireland during WWII to avoid the bombings of London. And I think the payoff of the story is quite interesting. After watching the Crown, this gives you more imaginary back story on the two girls and how they became the women they grew up to be. Especially Princess Margaret. If I was totally oblivious to the royal family, I would still find this an interesting book, but knowing even a little bit adds to the appreciation of the story.
By the cover and description, you may think this is a middle grade novel. I did. But from a content standpoint there is some adult material, so it is definitely for more mature audiences.
I always think Barrie Kreinik is an great narrator, but she was on point with this one. Her “Ellen” (Queen Elizabeth) accent was beyond excellent, and all the other characters in this story were fabulous as well.
I was very excited about the premise of this book. The Princesses of England squirreled away to Ireland during WWII to avoid the bombings of London. And I think the payoff of the story is quite interesting. After watching the Crown, this gives you more imaginary back story on the two girls and how they became the women they grew up to be. Especially Princess Margaret. If I was totally oblivious to the royal family, I would still find this an interesting book, but knowing even a little bit adds to the appreciation of the story.
By the cover and description, you may think this is a middle grade novel. I did. But from a content standpoint there is some adult material, so it is definitely for more mature audiences.
I always think Barrie Kreinik is an great narrator, but she was on point with this one. Her “Ellen” (Queen Elizabeth) accent was beyond excellent, and all the other characters in this story were fabulous as well.