Today’s book review is on Judith Barrow’s Secrets – In the Shadows Lurks the Truth. A novelette introducing some of the characters and their background secrets they carried when introduced into a riveting Family Saga trilogy following the Howarth family through the decades.
Get this book on Amazon
Blurb:
Ashford, home of the Howarth family,is a gritty northern mill town, a community of no-nonsense Lancashire folk, who speak their minds and are quick to judge. But how many of them are hiding secrets that wouldn’t stand up to the scrutiny of others?
Judith Barrow’s Howarth Family trilogy, Pattern of Shadows, Changing Patterns and Living in the Shadows, along with the prequel, A Hundred Tiny Threads, published by Honno Press, is peopled with just such characters. Here are some of their secret stories – the girl who had to relinquish her baby, the boy who went to war too young, the wife who couldn’t take any more…
“Judith Barrow has surpassed herself in writing this great family saga… There is such a wealth of fantastic characters to fall in love with and ones to hate!” (Brook Cottage Books)
My 5 Star Review
This short but engrossing read introduces us to some of the characters in Barrow’s Pattern’s trilogy. These juicy tidbits reveal some of the secrets in backstory of some of the characters we’ll come to know in Barrow’s books. These secrets revolve around the family saga of the Howarth family in wartime England and continue into following decades. We get a sneak peak into what some of these characters endured, encompassing issues such as: An abused wife in Edith Jagger’s Secrets, Nelly Shuttleworth’s Secret about how she tried to save her baby from being taken at birth by fleeing a nun’s adoption home, Gwyneth’s Secret and about how she met the patriarch in Pattern of Shadows, a man we’ll love to hate.
All these stories leave us hanging and have us wanting to discover what happens next with a wonderfully written cast of characters who suffer tough times. If you love Family Saga stories you’ll love this series.
On my kindle. Thanks for reminding me 🙂
LikeLike
Fantastic! And you’re welcome. 🙂 xx
LikeLike
❤
LikeLike
Thank you, Christoph.x
LikeLike
Great review, Debby. I already have this book on my Kindle, now you made me want to push up to the front. xo
LikeLike
Oh good, glad I could entice you Patricia. 🙂 xx
LikeLike
Thank you, Debby. You entice so well. 🙂 xx
LikeLike
Well thanks for the compliment Judith. 🙂 xxx
LikeLike
Thank you, Patricia, I do hope you enjoy the read.xx
LikeLike
Sounds like a great read–and love the cover.
LikeLike
It really gets you curious about their stories. 🙂
LikeLike
So glad it works, Debby. I appreciate your support, as always.xxx
LikeLike
xxxx
LikeLike
Thank you, Jacqui. I wanted t the cover to match the trilogy. Glad you like it.
LikeLike
You sure know how to reel us in, Deb ~ the mark of a great review! ♥
LikeLike
OH, thanks so much for that lovely compliment T. 🙂 ❤
LikeLike
A pleasure, luv ❤
LikeLike
❤
LikeLike
Well deserved, Debby. You always write a good review.x
LikeLike
Aw, thanks Judith. 🙂 xx
LikeLike
Doesn’t she just, Tina!! And I’m so grateful for that. Thank you for dropping by.xx
LikeLike
You’re welcome, Judith. Wouldn’t have missed it ❤
LikeLike
A brilliant review of Judith’s book, Debby. I have A hundred tiny threads on my kindle and it is going to be one of my reads as soon as my current batch are finished (I read five books at a time).
LikeLike
Wow Robbie, 5 books at one time, you got me beat! 🙂
LikeLike
And me, Debby. I’m way behind on my one book to read at the moment.x
LikeLike
Thank you for dropping by, Robbie, and for having the book to read. Do hope you like it. Five books at once?!!! xx
LikeLike
Can’t wait to start reading this, it is on my list. xxx
LikeLike
Great Adele. 🙂 xx
LikeLike
You certainly have got people interested in my book, Debby. Thank you ❤
LikeLike
Well good Judith. I like sharing the good stuff. 🙂 ❤
LikeLike
Thank you, Adele, do hope you like it.x
LikeLike
Oh, do I hear you Judith. 🙂 ❤
LikeLike
I have a feeling I’ll love it, Judith. xxx
LikeLike
A fabulous review to share, Debby! Thank you. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Natlie. Judith is a wonderful writer. 🙂 xx
LikeLike
Aw, shucks!!! Thank you, my lovely friend. xxxxxxxxxx
LikeLike
My pleasure Judith. 🙂 xxxx
LikeLike
I’m honoured and thrilled by Debby’s review, Natalie. She’s such a brilliant support. 🙂
LikeLike
These are gems to celebrate, Judith! Yes, Debby is truly amazing with her support for the writing community, as are you. Cheers to you both! 🙂
LikeLike
Wonderful review, Debby. Judith’s series is so intriguing. Is this a book that’s best read before the series as an intro, or after for a deeper look? Or doesn’t it matter?
LikeLike
Thanks Diana. Actually, I think this book can be read before or after. Pattern trilogy is a series through the decades. I’ve only read the first in the series and some of the characters in the prequel haven’t been introduced yet in the first book and now it’s got me curious to find out about the others. 🙂 x
LikeLike
Thank you, Debby. Yes, either, I think. Even though it’s a prequel, it was actually written because these characters wouldn’t leave me alone.lo. I’m haunted by them.l xxx
LikeLike
A true writer’s symptom, lol. 🙂 xxx
LikeLike
Hi Diana, Readers tell me it can be read before or after. The truth is these two characters shouted at me to write their stories to show why they were as they were in Pattern of Shadows, so who am I to argue!! Thanks for dropping by.xx
LikeLike
That’s kind of what I figured. And yes, obey those characters when they’re shouting! They usually have something important to say. 🙂
LikeLike
A terrific review, Debby. ? Judith, what a great idea to introduce the characters of your books through these short stories, giving us a snippet of them.I’m drawn in by the review and want to read more…heading off to look closer at this book. ?
LikeLike
Thanks Annika. I’m so glad my review has piqued your curiosity. 🙂 x
LikeLike
Debby, I can’t thank you enough for keeping these characters alive for me . On to Hannah Booth’s story.x
LikeLike
xoxo
LikeLike
Thank you Annika.I am actually now writing the life story of one of the characters. I think they might never leave me alone. xxx
LikeLike
?? A lifetime relationship!
LikeLike
Lovely! Thanks Deb, will check out this book. 🙂
LikeLike
Great B. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. 🙂 x
LikeLike
Having been offline for a few days with ‘malfunctioning Pc, Debby, I’m thrilled that you have shared this so much.Thank you.xxx
LikeLike
Oh Judith, so many of us with computer woes. So glad you’re back! 🙂 xx
LikeLike
I’m in the middle of writing two books, Debbie. I hadn’t backed up either so much panic… and lesson learned. lol 🙂
LikeLike
OMGGGGGGGGGGG Judith. Get Dropbox! Twice I almost lost manuscripts to computer crap. You must back up to a cloud service besides anything else you may want to do. If you’d like to sign up let me know. I wrote an article on it with a signup link from me. If you do, you’ll get extra storage space ❤
LikeLike
Balroop, you are so kind. I o hope you find these stories to your liking.x
LikeLike
Debby, thank you so much for this. I’m so sorry i missed it. I’ve been offline – no monitor for five days!! I really appreciate this lovely review. judithxx
LikeLike
It’s my absolute pleasure Judith. I love reviewing books I enjoy. And no need to apologize. We all get there. 🙂 ❤
LikeLike
Thank you,Debby.xx
LikeLike
❤
LikeLike
Oh my goodness. This review has piqued my interest as well as her other books. Thanks for the reviews, Debby.
LikeLike
Oh, so glad to hear Karen. Thanks for dropping by and I have no doubt you’d enjoy Judith’s books. 🙂
LikeLike
Debby, I am so grateful!! I feel like asking the publishers to send free copies to everyone!! So long I’ve waited to write these stories and share this trilogy. xxx
LikeLike
So well deserved Judith. Take your moment! 🙂 xxx
LikeLike
Thank you, Karen. feeling a bit… a lot overwhelmed by so much support. I would love for you to enjoy my books. xx
LikeLike
This sounds very intriguing, Deb! Anything to do with family saga makes for an interesting plot. Thanks for the share. Over to GR to add this to my TBR.
LikeLike
Great Lis! I think you’d enjoy Judith’s books. 🙂
LikeLike
Truly overwhelmed, Debby. Thank you.xxx
LikeLike
My pleasure Judith. ❤
LikeLike
Thank you, Lisa. Couldn’t resist writing these stories of the minor characters. The first of the trilogy is based in the first German POW camp. A family saga that has many repercussions. Thanks for dropping by.xx
LikeLike
My kind of book. On my list. Thanks!
LikeLike
Oh great Jennie! 🙂
LikeLike
?
LikeLike
Thank you so much, Jennie 🙂
LikeLike
You’re welcome, Judith. ?
LikeLike
Sounds like this family saga has a bit of everything. Thanks for letting me know a little more about it.
LikeLike
My pleasure to share the good stuff Norah. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Norah.
LikeLike
This certainly sounds like a great read! Thanks for telling me about Judith’s book, Debby 🙂
LikeLike
My pleasure Christy. I love Judith’s writing. 🙂 x
LikeLike
Missed this last week when we were getting ready for the storm.. lovely review and will add to the Cafe update on Monday.. I have just finished A Hundred Tiny Threads and will review that later in the week.. brilliant job as always Debby.. hugs xx♥
LikeLike
Oh yay Sal, thanks. And I look forward to reading your review on Judith’s 100 Tiny Threads, also on my reading pile. ❤
LikeLike
Thank you, Sally. I’m so grateful for all your support.
LikeLike
I have this and am really looking forward to reading it. I haven’t read her series yet but am intrigued by these glimpses into her characters’ lives regardless. It looks amazing.
LikeLike
Oh great Sarah. And I don’t think you have to read the other books before this one. It’s more like an intro to the characters in the series. 🙂
LikeLike