- Hardcover: 438 pages
- Publisher: Little, Brown & Company; First Edition edition (5 Oct 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0316646229
- ISBN-13: 978-0316646222
- Product Dimensions: 22.2 x 14.5 x 3.7 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,449,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
The Guardian
'A bloodstained version of the world of Barbara Pym.'
Val McDermid
'An intelligent and convincing story.'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
'Cruel Habitations' by Kate Charles Published October 2000 by Little Brown ISBN 0-316-64622-9
For sisters Alison & Jacquie Barrett, their holiday in Greece in 1989, is the holiday of a lifetime. Brought up strictly by their parents in the confines of the Free Baptist Fellowship, the sisters take this opportunity to spread their wings. Jacquie sees it as a last fling before her impending marriage, but Alison falls in love. Little do they realise that this carefree holiday will shape both their destiny's.
Eleven years later when Sophie Lilburn first sees Quire Close, she is initially struck by its beauty, and is beguiled by her husband Chris, who has been offered the position of Tenor Lay Clerk and History teacher, to leave London and move to Westmead. While Chris takes up his post and considers it a privilege to live and work in the shadow of the great Westmead Cathedral, Sophie becomes increasingly suffocated, not only by the shadow of the Cathedral, but by the intimacy of the close and its inhabitants.
With time on her hands she becomes increasingly desperate to have a child and obsessively trapped by the daily visits of Leslie Clunch who has recently retired after being Head Verger for thirty years. Sophie learns that the power lies between Leslie Clunch and Elspeth Verey, widow of the Dean of Westmead. And that it is not wise to cross either of them. When Elspeth's son learns she is a well-known photographer, he takes to visiting her, which is a welcome respite from the oppression that Sophie is feeling. But in such a small community nothing escapes the gossips and when she learns of the unsolved murder of a young woman over a decade ago, she feels even more threatened by the people around her.
Following the death of her father, Jacquie, now divorced, seeks to find her sister who she has not seen since her wedding. Her quest leads her to Westmead, where she finds more that she could ever have imagined.
Kate Charles has woven a truly absorbing tale, of murder, and how the repercussions of ones actions will reverberate down the years. In a short review it is not possible to portray the power of the Reverend Prew, the gossipy Jeremy Hammond and the delightful Canon Swan. I urge you to read it for yourselves.
The fascinating characters in this book blew me away. I didn't want it to end, I wanted to go on reading about their lives. ----- Lizzie Hayes
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having read all previous Kate Charles books, which I thoroughly enjoyed, it was wonderful to read a new type of writing style. Ms. Charles merges two stories into one. The story of Alison and Jackie and their repressed religious lives and the infertile wife of the choir teacher that moves to the Cathedral City. I found both stories compelling and couldn't wait to read how the paths and lives of these people would cross. I would highly recommend this and all of Kate Charles' books, especially if you want to learn more about Religion in England.
Format:Paperback
Kate Charles writes marvellously. You are always eager to read on and on.
This book is wonderfully crafted. As already said above: You don't want an end to this book. you want to read more about these people.
theres
This book is wonderfully crafted. As already said above: You don't want an end to this book. you want to read more about these people.
theres
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not hackneyed at all
I love Kate Charles's books; they're enough to put you off church-going for life. This is quite different to the others in style, and Charles manages to stop the book becoming... Read more
Published on 21 Jun 2005 by "evoebacche"
Really excellant story
This is the first book I have read of Kate Charles, looking forward to reading others. A really good story, very readable and interesting. Read more
Published on 7 May 2001
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