The Woman at 72 Derry Lane

By: Carmel Harrington

Narrated by: Aoife McMahon

Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

On a leafy suburban street in Dublin, beautiful, poised Stella Greene lives with her successful husband, Matt. They're the perfect couple in every way, and Stella appears to have it all. Next door, at number 72, however, lives Rea Brady. Gruff, bad tempered and rarely seen besides the twitching of her net curtains, rumour has it she's lost it all...including her marbles, if you believe the neighbourhood gossip.

But appearances can be deceiving, and when Stella and Rea's worlds collide they realise they have much in common. Both are trapped in prisons of their own making.

Has help been next door without them realising it?

With the warmth and wit of Maeve Binchy and the secrets and twists of Liane Moriarty, this is the utterly original and compelling new novel from Irish Times best seller Carmel Harrington.

©2017 Carmel Harrington (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

'A wonderfully, life-affirming book… Carmel Harrington writes with such honesty.' ( New York Times best-selling author Hazel Gaynor)

'Will make you see life in a different way.' ( Woman's Way)

'Heartwrenching and heartwarming.' ( Evening Herald)

'Guaranteed to brighten your day.' ( Novelicious)

'Carmel Harrington has done it again! Brilliantly written…it surpasses all expectations.' ( Chicklit Club)

So much emotion, I was not prepared

This book appeared as a recommendation when I finished a Marian Keyes novel. So I thought this novel would be a light bit of fluff.

Well I was wrong! This book captured my attention from the start, the characters where great. The story held me in its grip.
I was on an emtional roller coaster the whole time! I cried a lot during this.
Narrated brilliantly. I really enjoyed this book even though I was a bit exhausted at times from all the emtion.

The 2004 tsunami writ large on Ireland

Neighbors in Dublin in 2014 learn they’ve all lost family in the 2004 Tsunami in Phuket. The story is less interesting than the characters who feel well drawn and appealing. Too much glib wife beating action (enough already!) and quite a bit too much “God moves in mysterious ways” but the reader has a lovely accent and just enough variation to delineate the characters well. Love of all kinds, amd especially family bonds, is well handled.

Love the Narrator!

I definitely got more that I expected from this book, which I initially thought was a fluffy chick-lit. It's a thoughtful story told wonderfully from various viewpoints. The characters are multi-dimensional and real and the story both tragic and hopeful. Recommended!

Surprisingly engrossing. Could not put it down.

I tend to like mysteries, not dramatic novels, but really loved this. The tragedy of the Thai Tsunami became very real, as did the real life struggles of the characters. Life is hard but it still goes on. Happiness is a choice, as are our friends, who may become family. I also enjoyed the narration a lot, much better than many. Glad I chose this book.

Enjoyable

This is not my usual genre but I enjoyed this
Story very much. The first person details if the Thailand tsunami was very well done. I also liked the ending. Great
Narration.

Surprising

I thought until about 1/3 through that this would be another murder mystery type story, but then figured out it’s more a story of overcoming and how life is full of pain, but also love and joy. I cried way more than I thought I would during the sad chapters. I cared about each of the characters and found myself wishing they were all real and hoping they had happy endings.

Fabulous book!

Very entertaining and so well narrated. Great characters, interesting plot, a few twists - bravo!
Buy it.

Wow! Harrington is a new fave

I was so involved with this book that I Couldn’t put it down. The reader was excellent and I love the storyline. I would actually read this book again I’m very excited to hear what other stories Harrington has written. And the narrator was also excellent. I definitely would highly recommend this to anyone who is wanting to get their mind off things and escape into another world.

Totally Brilliant

I loved this book! It kept me listening all day long. The characters were well developed and I felt as if I knew them all by the end of the story!!

Highly recommend!

Outstanding!

One of the best books I've listened to in a long time. Great narrator, characters and story.

Thank you

This book helped me leave an abusive relationship, l listened again and again to your advise and found the courage to go, thank you x

Two books!

This was really two books in one. Whilst avoiding spoilers, I can say that the story based in Derry Lane is very good and merits 4 stars, the story set elsewhere, which was obviously going to tie-up with Derry Lane, isn’t very interesting (it’s been done much better elsewhere) and is frankly, unnecessary and distracting! The link-up at the end was twee. Altogether, a frustrating book because only the Derry Lane story was interesting and it kept going off at a tangent!

Loved it!!cried so many times

I loved this story and as always fantastic narration from Aoife one of my favourites!
I loved at the characters and felt like I really got to know them, I miss them.

absolutely brilliant

great story from start to finish. fabulous narrator. absolutely brilliant writing . brilliant ...brilliant. ..brilliant loved it

powerful topics but she didn't do them justice!

I have read alot of Jo Spain and I was really disappointed with this book. She broached 3 very big topics but she sugar coated them so much it was totally unbelievable. I felt aggrieved for anyone who had gone through any of the things in this book, especially domestic abuse and bereavement, because if you're going to address these matters, you give the victims or survivors the credit they deserve. Don't romanticise it and skim over the important details. Way too wishy-washy.

gripped...

first book ive ever finished on audible. Very well narrated, and an easy listen. 10/10!

The woman at 72 Derry Lane

I really enjoyed this book. Made me cry, and laugh sometimes at the same time. Looking forward to reading more from this author only wish more was on audible great read.

Favourite Book of 2017

This book was my favourite read of 2017! Read perfectly and such a heartwarming story that will stay with me for a long time.

brill

Really enjoyed this best one I've listened to couldn't put it down . Good story and well read

Enjoyable twists and turns.

Starts off as a perhaps predictable tale, but takes interesting twists and turns that leave you trying to join the pieces of the jigsaw until well into the story. Some parts so well written that you feel like you were there and are extremely thankful that you weren’t. A tale of triumph and strong women, strong relationships and a satisfying end. I love Aoife McMahon’s narration of anything, and this one doesn’t disappoint!