Judith Barrow is another in the group of amazing and talented Welsh authors (think Thorne Moore, Iris Gower) whose books I inhale.
This one is a psychologically twisted tale of an evil stepmother and the destruction she wreaks on a family that was managing well without her. Lynn nurses a dying, bed-ridden mother and is seen by one of the woman’s eight-year-old twins, Charlie and Chloe, being mean to her – a harbinger of things to come. The story is told from the twins’ point of view.
Although the twins are doing well living with their father, Graham, after his wife dies, Lynn worms her way into Graham’s life and he marries her, bringing cruelty and chaos into the family. She is psychotic and a professional manipulator who always gets her way, something the twins recognize immediately but are afraid to tell their father. Lynn has two children of her own, Evie, who befriends the twins, and Saul, a hateful and nasty older boy who antagonizes and bullies Charlie in horrible ways.
Charlie hates his stepmother from the beginning, and she gradually gets the cowardly and spineless Graham to believe the lies she tells about Charlie. So much so that he agrees to send Charlie away to a reform school. Chloe is not as obstinate as Charlie but eventually she too is removed from the family and placed in foster care on the basis of Lynn’s lies about her. To control Graham, who at least recognizes that Lynn is tearing his family apart, Lynn begins to drug him until he is all but useless. This allows her access to his money and a life without confrontation to her plans.
For the next ten years, the twins, who never see each other, make their way in the life forced on them, with its continuing cruelties and lack of emotional support. But they prove resilient enough to survive to adulthood and thrive, and they never stop hoping they will find each other. Will Charlie and Chloe find each other? Will Lynn finally get her due and Graham be rescued from his useless life? Can his children forgive him? Will Saul finally receive his just rewards? What happens is what kept me turning the pages, looking for the answers to these questions. The answers are almost as convoluted as Lynn’s machinations.
I became attached to Charlie and Chloe from the beginning, experiencing each injustice done them personally and wondering what evil their stepmother would do to them next. I became frustrated at the weakness of Graham. What kind of a father is he? I desperately wanted to shake him into reality. Lynn at first seemed a caricature of the evil stepmother, but the author clearly understand the depths of human depravity and I came to understand that Lynn represents a real but twisted person. The only drawback is that I couldn’t imagine a man as weak and compliant at Graham.
The author has successfully created a book populated by real people, people you love to hate or just hate or just love. She has created unexpected twists and turns and the book is a lively read. Recommended for anyone liking a good book about family drama or who just love to hate an evil stepmother.
About the author (from Amazon):
Judith Barrow is a writer of domestic thrillers, domestic noir, and historical family sagas. Her books include Sisters, published in 2023, and The Memory, which was shortlisted in 2021 for the Wales Book of the Year (the Rhys Davies Trust Fiction Award).
Originally from Saddleworth, a group of villages on the Pennines, she has lived in Pembrokeshire, Wales, for over forty years. She has an MA in creative writing, a BA ( Hons) in Literature, and Diploma in Drama. She is a creative writing tutor and holds workshops on all genres. She also attend many festivals and book events and frequently gives talks on creative writing.
You can find her at:
https://www.facebook.com/judith.barrow.3
It is great when you find authors that you always enjoy reading.
Even better when an author finds a reader who enjoys their stories, Rosie. I’m always grateful.
Yes, indeed!
Thanks, Noelle. It sounds like another great book by this talented author. I’m adding it to my list!
You’re very kind, Olga. I’m grateful for your comments – and that you’ve added The Stranger in my House to what must be a toppling pile of TBR books.
Good timing, Noelle. I just finished this book last night and will be leaving my own review in the next couple of days. Your thoughts mirror mine. While Lynne and Saul were just plain evil, the character I was most frustrated with was Graham. He was a spineless jellyfish. I had to remind myself that disliking a character is not a reflection of the excellent writing. The first word that comes to mind for Charlie and Chloe is resiliency, and Judith had me rooting for them from the get-go.
Great minds think alike! Lynn’s daughter could have done more – I felt sorry for her.
Glad to hear it! You’ve got some great reading here.
I loved this book, Noelle, and became so attached to Charlie and Chloe that I couldn’t put it down. I also found myself wanting to shake some sense into Graham, especially in the beginning when he was still capable of questioning his decisions and what was happening. I don’t want to spoil the read for anyone, but second your great review. Congrats to Judith!
You and I are on the same page. I was looking forward to reading this book and wasn’t disappointed!
Great review, Noelle. Sounds like a good read!
It is! and thanks!
It sounds excellent… but there’s no way I could read it!
Too traumatizing?
Makes my hair stand on end! Thanks for posting your review, Noelle. Congratulations to Judith. Hugs all around.
Thanks, Teagan. It did disturb me enough that I wanted to reach in and strangle some characters!
Your blog is a testament to your expertise and dedication to your craft. I’m constantly impressed by the depth of your knowledge and the clarity of your explanations. Keep up the amazing work!HABANERO88
Noodlemagazine Great information shared.. really enjoyed reading this post thank you author for sharing this post .. appreciated
Thank you!