Hi, all:
I bring you the review of a book by an author who is very well-known and respected, and whom I had the pleasure of meeting in person at a book fair many years ago. I’ve been meaning to read one of her novels for ages, and finally, this one caught my attention at the right time.
The Stranger in My House by Judith Barrow
A gripping ‘cuckoo in the nest’ domestic thriller
After the death of their mum, twins Chloe and Charlie are shocked when their dad introduces Lynne as their ‘new mummy’. Lynne, a district nurse, is trusted in the community, but the twins can see her kind smile doesn’t meet her eyes. In the months that follow they suffer the torment Lynne brings to their house as she stops at nothing in her need to be in control.
Betrayed, separated and alone, the twins struggle to build new lives as adults, but will they find happiness or repeat past mistakes? Will they discover Lynne’s secret plans for their father? Will they find each other in time?
The Stranger in My House is a gripping ‘cuckoo in the nest’ domestic thriller, exploring how coercive control can tear a family apart. Set in Yorkshire and Cardiff, from the 60s to the winter of discontent, The Stranger in My House dramatises both the cruelty and the love families hide behind closed doors.
“Judith Barrow’s greatest strength is her understanding of her characters and the times in which they live.” Terry Tyler
About the author:
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 attends many festivals and book events, and frequently gives talks on creative writing.
My review:
I have read many positive comments and reviews about this author’s work, both in fiction and non-fiction, and based on my experience reading this novel, they are right.
This novel includes a prologue (written in the first person) that introduces the subject of evil, and how we might not be aware of having come across it in our lives, perhaps because we cannot even imagine certain things can happen around us. (It brought to my mind the saying that the devil’s greatest trick was convincing the world that it didn’t exist). It sets up the scene for what is to come subtly. Readers might not realise, but they are in for quite a ride.
The novel is divided into two parts, set 12 years apart. Part one takes place in 1967, and part two in 1978. The story falls into the category of recent historical fiction because the atmosphere, setting, and social circumstances are accurately reflected. The story starts in a Northern English town, shortly after the death of the mother of a family due to an illness. The father, Graham, a local businessman who runs a car dealership with a partner and friend, brings a new woman into the equation, Lynne, who happens to be the nurse who had been looking after Graham’s wife during her final illness. The children of the family, twins Charlie and Chloe, not yet 11, had witnessed a distressing episode while their mother was still alive and knew that Lynne is not as nice and caring as she appears to be. However, their father thinks they just need time to adjust to the loss of their mother and to the new circumstances and doesn’t take their concerns seriously. To make matters worse, Lynne has two children from previous relationships, and although the girl, Evie, seems nice, the boy, Saul, is a bully and a nasty individual. The situation quickly escalates: Graham believes all his wife tells him about his children’s difficult behaviour, and both Charlie and Chloe end up as victims of a situation not of their making.
One of the things I liked most about this novel is the way we see what happens mostly from the point of view of the two twins (there are some chapters from other characters’ points of view, especially Graham, at the beginning), although they are written in the third person. The way they express themselves and think is appropriate to their ages, and we even get to read the letters Chloe used to write to Sandy Shaw, their mother’s favourite singer, which are very moving.
The second part shows us what has happened to the twins, who are no longer children, in the interim, and eventually brings things to a head.
I won’t go into specific details about the story, as there are enough details in the description to wet people’s appetite, and this being a domestic thriller, it is best to avoid revealing too much information. The story builds up progressively at a steady pace, and it is interspersed with the twins’ everyday lives and relationships, although things accelerate towards the end, with threats, scary moments, and plenty of action.
When I started reading, I must confess I kept having to suspend my disbelief and wonder how some of the incidents, or similar things, could happen without somebody reacting or doing anything to help these children, but if we take into account the time it is set in, it is not so surprising. People are more aware of some of the issues the novel raises nowadays (bullying, abuse in children’s homes, psychological abuse…), and one hopes something as extreme would not happen in this day and age, but then, one only needs to check the newspapers or watch the news to realise that things might not have changed as much as we would like to think, unfortunately.
This novel has something of the fairy tale, with the evil stepmother as the villain (even one of the characters, a psychologist, mentions that), but, the characters are well constructed, extremely realistic, and, in the case of the twins (and their father, to a lesser extent) easy to empathise with (and of course, sympathise as well), and rather than a fairy tale (whose stories can teach children invaluable lessons), it ends up becoming a cautionary tale. We should not trust appearances and believe all reputations are deserved, good, and bad. As we all know, some “pillars of society” are revealed to have been anything but, and we need to question everything and not take anything at face value.
A great novel, written in short chapters, full of psychological insight and detail, gripping and moving. I loved the ending, I am sure most readers will be satisfied with it, and I’d recommend it to anybody who enjoys the genre. Readers should be aware of the nature of the content, as it might trigger memories and cause distress.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for this novel, and to all of you for reading, commenting, liking, sharing, and for your ongoing support. You are all stars. Don’t forget to keep smiling!
Just Olga 