Reviewed by Emma Crowley
When Jess discovers the letter from her older sister Charlotte tucked into an old typewriter, her world is shaken. It’s dated two days after their father, the vicar, said she died. How could he lie about that? Desperate to uncover the truth, Jess must find her sister. The London location in her sister’s letter is her only clue…
Leaving her quiet life in the country as a vicar’s daughter behind, now Jess is in the city in wartime, her gas mask slung around her shoulder. Her one refuge is her room at a Mayfair lodging house with two other girls. Wealthy Betony is all style and charm, but she’s trying to shake her aristocratic airs and graces. Irish nurse Grace with her easy smile is much more down to earth, but Jess is certain she’s keeping a secret…
With war throwing the three girls together, can Jess’s new friends help find her missing sister, despite the secrets between them? Or will they be torn apart for good?
Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my copy of The Vicar’s Daughter at the Lodging House to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
The opening of book two, The Vicar’s Daughter at the Lodging House, in Natalie Meg Evans' Wartime Lodging House series picks up exactly where the first book had left readers on a major cliffhanger. But this is only for a few brief pages. For then the reader is taken back to see how the character came to find herself in the terrifying situation that has befallen her. So definitely this can be read as a standalone book as each books follows a different girl out of the trio that for one reason or another reside in Mrs Kesgrave’s lodging house. Book one was good but this was even better. It really went up a level from Grace’s story and I was completely enthralled and invested from the start. Right from the get go I felt so much happened and that there was a big mystery that had to be solved. Jess has a quest and emerging from the shadows of her vicar father and his sidekick Mrs Hillington she goes on an incredible journey. One in which she garners strength and courage that she never knew she possessed. She is determined to uncover the truth surrounding the supposed death of her sister Charlotte and nothing will stop her until she has solid evidence.
I don’t know what it was but there was just something about Jess that had me connecting with her instantly. Perhaps, it was that there was a lot of secrecy surrounding her purpose and it was a tale of someone finding their voice and doing what she knew was right and just. Despite all the trials and tribulations thrown her way on a personal level not to mention battling through the Blitz inflicted upon the innocent people of London she just kept motoring on. Physically she may have been hurt at times but her mind remained true and steadfast highlighting the deep bonds that sisters have. She knew something wasn’t right regarding her sister and unless she saw physical evidence she hadn’t Charlotte dead and buried just yet.
Jess came from Ramsgate leaving her father behind who was evasive and controlling. I don’t think he was especially mean or nasty, but he remained loyal to his beliefs no matter. Maybe he thought he was doing the right thing but Jess knew better. Admittedly, I did figure out fairly on what had gone on but as to the specifics and the tangled web that ensued, I would never have guessed the finer details. The author takes the reader on a fascinating journey as Jess’ arrival in London doesn’t turn out the way she had wanted. The young innocent woman from the country has to learn to grow up fast and become street wise which takes her some time. Jess up until this point had always tried to appease her father whereas Charlotte was the rebellious one but Jess is done with satisfying other people and she throws caution to the wind. This takes her into some dark, dangerous and unsettling situations where connections to Grace (who was the protagonist in book one) begin to emerge. I found myself smiling thinking this is brilliant that links are being made as it allowed things regarding Grace to make even more sense. It was as if all three girls, Betony being the third, had a reason that drew them to the lodging house, and they ended up sharing the same room. All their stories I feel will connect and instead of two separate stories being told through two books things began to gel together very well.
At several points, some scenes were repeated from book one and usually in a series this would really get on my nerves. I feel it unnecessary to go over old ground but in this case this occurring was apt and helped the reader to make connections and understand certain situations or characters feelings from a different viewpoint. Jess begins work at the Ministry of Information in censorship, checking letters for information/clues that may be untoward or that would help those in power with winning the war. This job will prove essential in Jess’s ongoing challenge. It was brilliant that there was so much going on throughout the book without any lulls yet at the same time I didn’t think events were being thrown at the reader without time to digest and piece together everything. The pacing was superb and the further I read I got a real sense that Jess was piecing things together as the clues led her to various places and precarious situations all over London.
Romance does start to feature for Jess but again this was downplayed which was good as this was about finding the answers regarding Charlotte that she so desperate sought. The romantic element popped up every now and again at just the perfect junctures and fitted in very well with the overall plot themes, and emotions explored deftly throughout the book. As for the three girls and the relationship they developed. It wasn’t straight forward by any means and I would say they didn’t instantly became bosom buddies (which I thought would have been unrealistic) and worked as one as a force of nature and everything is rosy in the garden like can happen with sagas set during World War Two. I thoroughly enjoyed that there was friction between them. Even rivalries and mistrust to a degree but towards the end things were slightly softening when a major event which connects back to the prologue occurs. Any difficulties they had previously experienced were pushed to one side so they could work as one. A truce of sorts occurred which I feel will remain that way in the next book and hopefully we will see a further softening of the girls and they will always realise that drawing together is the best thing for them especially during the times they live through.
The Vicar’s Daughter at the Lodging House was a brilliant read and reminded me why I first fell in love with this author’s writing. If you haven’t read her debut The Dress Thief I would highly recommend it. Again this book ended on a cliffhanger (although more subtly than the one we were provided with at the conclusion of book one) with lots more to come. For Betony is next to tell her story. She is the one who is glamorous and comes from a wealthy background. She has sharp edges and is very self-possessed and so far I can’t warm to her at all and I think several readers have felt this way judging from the author’s end notes. In a way I dare Natalie Meg Evans to change my perception of Betony and if you do you will have done some job. In the meantime if you love World War Two fiction this is a gripping page turner that you won’t forget in a hurry.
No comments:
Post a Comment