Reviews

The Convalescent Corpse by Nicola Slade

steph_g_1111's review

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5.0

I really loved the characters in this book! There is a mystery, but the antics of the lovable Fyttleton family is really what the book is about. I very much hope there will be another book about this family because I want to know what happens to them. Highly recommend!

kirkw1972's review

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5.0

This book was really delightful. All the characters were completely delightful in typical keep your chin up while the world (at war) is falling down around you. It's full of the true British spirit that we are so proud of. It's told from the perspective of Christy as she navigate, along with her sisters the running of their house, the boarding house next door, writing penny dreadfuls', transcribing her mothers romantic fictions and the attentions from one of the young wounded soldiers convalescing in the nearby great hall. She's one busy gal! I could happily have kept reading more about this family. 

There's a murder up at the main house that Christy starts looking into and then one of their boarders ends up in the ha-ha (ditch) after someone bops her on the head. There are some interesting twists and turns while working out just who did what and where their father may fit into it. 

The setting is fabulous and feels like an actual portrayal of the times. The characters are quirky and unique and I absolutely loved it

heatherr's review

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I adored the characters in this story.

  • Granny is a titled lady who was a failed debutante.  (What she did to Queen Victoria sealed her fate.) However, she is an excellent poacher and that has been most useful in keeping the family going during World War I rationing.

  • Mother is a reclusive author who doesn't function well in the real world so keeping her out of it is the best course of action.

  • Alix is the oldest daughter.  Her twin brother died in the war a few months ago.  She volunteers at the neighboring hospital to get a look at any potential husbands but she hasn't been impressed yet.

  • Christy is the responsible one who works out a plan to take in lodgers without her mother knowing about it.  She also publishes stories that no one knows she writes. 

  • Addy is a genius who has been kicked out of school again for talking back to the teachers.

  • Father was a con man who came in and out of their lives until he had the decency to sink with the Lusitania three years ago but now it seems that that might have been a con too.


 Even the secondary and background characters are well developed.  I especially liked the detail of the woman who named her children names that she'd seen in the newspaper but never heard pronounced so Nigel is called Niggle and Penelope is Penny-lope.  

When I started reading this book, I didn't remember what it was supposed to be about and I found that I didn't really care.  I enjoyed spending time with this family as they navigated the grief over their brother's death that is just starting to lift a bit and as they find ways to support themselves.  The book is funny and warm with a mystery or two thrown into the mix.  I will definitely look into more books by this author.  




Author Bio – Nicola Slade lives in Hampshire where she writes historical and contemporary mysteries and women’s fiction. While her three children were growing up she wrote stories for children and for women’s magazines before her first novel, Scuba Dancing, was published in 2005. Among other jobs, Nicola has been an antiques dealer and a Brown Owl! She loves travelling and at one time, lived in Egypt for a year. The Convalescent Corpse is Nicola's 9th novel. Nicola is also a member of a crime writers’ panel, The Deadly Dames 
Social Media Links – www.nicolaslade.wordpress.com www.nicolaslade.com
Twitter: @nicolasladeuk
https://www.facebook.com/nicolasladeuk/ https://www.pinterest.co.uk/nicola8703 (I have a board for each book)




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