Netherwood

De: Jane Sanderson

Narrado por: Penny McDonald

Eve Williams is about to discover just how the other half really live....

Above stairs: Lord Netherwood keeps his considerable fortune ticking over with the profits from his three coal mines in the vicinity. It's just as well the coal is of the highest quality as the upkeep of Netherwood Hall, his splendid estate on the outskirts of town, doesn't come cheap. And that's not to mention the cost of keeping his wife and daughters in the latest fashions - and keeping the heir, the charming but feckless Tobias, out of trouble.

Below stairs: Eve Williams, is the wife of one of Lord Netherwood's most stalwart employees. When her ordered existence amid the terraced rows of the miners' houses is brought crashing down by the twin arrivals of tragedy and charity, Eve must look to her own self-sufficiency, and talent, to provide for her three young children. And it's then that 'upstairs' and 'downstairs' collide in truly dramatic fashion....

©2011 Jane Sanderson (P)2011 Hachette Digital

For Downtown Abbey fans

If you loved the series "Downton Abbey", this is a great book to satisfy the same fascination with the lifestyles of British aristocracy, counter-balanced by the lives of those of serve them. Good characters, excellent historical background. My only complaint is the rather rushed ending, with definite indications of a sequel.

Loved it! Can't wait for the sequel

I absolutely loved this story. The characters are engaging, the story is well formed and the narrator is spot on. I didn't want it to end. I am SO glad there will be a sequel.

Exhausting to listen to - very wordy - boring.

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A story that was less detailed - constant lengthy use of unnecessary details about every act, scene, room, etc.

Would you ever listen to anything by Jane Sanderson again?

Possibly - her performance was well done - difficult to follow due to the accent which she performs well.

Any additional comments?

I could not bear to finish the book. I started listening on 3 different times; trying to follow the story and appreciate the book. The book had high ratings - but it dragged on with details about senseless things such as cracking an egg and stirring ingredients in a bowl. It took 5 minutes to describe a simple act that had nothing to do with the progress of the story. Completely disappointed. I have never NOT FINISHED a book in my life until this one.