The Barred Window

By: Andrew Taylor

Narrated by: Simon Shepherd

It is 1993 and Thomas Penmarsh has lived in Finisterre, the house by the sea, all his life, sleeping each night in the room with the barred window. He's only 48 but has been an old man since one evening in 1967 when he lost everything he valued. However, now his controlling mother has died and he is master of the house.

When Esmond, his cousin and childhood confidant, comes to live with him, Thomas is overjoyed - Esmond always looks after him. But is Esmond all that he seems? And why is he so concerned that Alice wants to come home too? Darling Alice, whom neither have seen since that fateful night 26 year ago ...

©1993 Andrew Taylor (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Unlike any other Andrew Taylor novel

The narration is exquisite. A delicious plummy voice that convincingly embodies the character that narrates the story. I wonder if I would have enjoyed this book as much if I had read it.

I’ve read all of Andrew Taylor’s historical fiction novels, as well as the much enjoyed Bleeding Heart Square. Barred Window does not resemble those books; I wouldn’t assume it was written by Andrew Taylor. Except that I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, and did not doubt their existence. Like all the other Andrew Taylor characters I have been introduced to, I will miss the main character, Thomas. I suppose that what identifies this novel as an Andrew Taylor novel.
Most of this book does not appear to be a murder mystery, although by the end you realize that maybe it is. It is a character study of the narrator, his mother and his only friend. It lacks exciting scenes, but is so finely wrought, that I didn’t miss the lack of thrilling action. I regret that I will not hear Thomas’s voice again, especially when he recounts his wonderfully bitchy mother’s conversations. Well done.