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Product Description
Synopsis
After forty years of happy marriage, Leonard thought he knew his wife Rose as well as he knew himself. It's only after her sudden death that he finds her old handbag, which contains a mystery he can't ignore. Accompanied by Lily, his wife's childhood friend, Leonard becomes a reluctant detective as his whole life starts to unravel! "The Blue Handbag" is steeped in a quiet poetry which reminds us to take pleasure from the ordinary details of life - reading stories to our children, sharing silence with our friend over a beer, enjoying the plants Leonard tends for a living - and never to take anything for granted.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Blue Handbag by Fiona Robyn is an excellent read. The novel is written in the third person present tense which took me by surprise. But it works so well. I was "in" there straightaway from the first page. The protagonist, Leonard, is an endearing widower who is so real and normal that I warmed to him straightaway. The plot twists and turns but you never flounder and think where's all this going? That there's a secret is obvious from the start. But what the secret is, is revealed very cleverly, layer by layer. The author has a couple of red herrings lying in wait and I found myself changing my mind just as Leonard does, as more information is revealed. It's almost a mystery, without a murder! If you like "solve it" type of novels, this would be one for you. But even if you're not into mystery novels, this is worth a read. The romance is tender, the pace, although "here and now" is actually quite fast paced. The reader sees things through Leonard's eyes and follows his train of thought as it goes off at a tangent - just like one's thoughts do in real life. But you have to keep reading. You have to find out what the secret is. A very neat, concise novel, an interesting cast of characters and a compelling plot that draws you along. Great for a holiday read or a back to work read - I rate this novel very highly indeed. And don't be put off by someone comparing Fiona Robyn to Joanna Trollope. Robyn is miles better than Trollope!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By brain candy
Format:Hardcover
I like her main character Leonard, he is very endearing. He has a wonderful character, I like the `buggers' and `loves' scattered through the narrative, the small inflections in his personality that give him depth and made me warm to him so. The story is a real intrigue. From the moment Leonard finds the blue handbag in the first chapter, I had such a drive to know more.
The Blue Handbag is such a lovely read. I really recommend it.
The Blue Handbag is such a lovely read. I really recommend it.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By R. E. Carver
Format:Paperback
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting all the characters in The Blue Handbag - I couldn't put it down, I was so completely engaged in Leonard's search. Having discovered the plot, I am tempted to re-read this book to savour the observation and characterisation. I loved that Leonard, a gardener, needed to allow any new ideas to germinate and grow before dealing with the next phase. I chuckled at the humour of Pickles moments, Leonard's occasional flights of fancy, and the author's wry and witty turn of phrase, but life's less amusing realities underpin this layered and interesting book.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By N. B. Smith
Format:Paperback
What would you do if you suddenly found that the person you were married to for many years had a secret life, a life that didn't gel with you knew her/him to be? That is the premise behind Fiona Robyn's "The Blue Handbag". Leonard, still grieving for his wife Rose, finds a ticket in a handbag of hers that seems inexplicable to him. Leonard is a father, grandfather, friend, husband, and most importantly, a good man. Three years after his wife Rose has died, he is almost ready to move on until he discovers the mystery of the wife he knew so well. Weaving an intriguing plot with great characters, Robyn has produced a novel that is a fine read about people we'd like to know. It is definitely worth reading--check it out.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Kate Burton
Format:Hardcover
I really liked the way this book gently unfolds. It's not an action packed novel, but a restful read, intelligently written that moves you from page to page. I felt compelled to see the mystery revealed like a patient detective. It's a story of seemingly regular people and a reminder that what you see on the surface of people's lives is always different behind the scenes.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Mrs B R Wood
Format:Kindle Edition
I recently read Small Kindesses by the same author, which I very much enjoyed. On searching for more books written by her I found this; It's the same book with a different title. So beware if like me you make hasty purchaes for your Kindle, you may end up with the same book
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Michael Finn
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
On the morning that Fiona Robyn emailed me to tell me I'd won a signed copy of The Blue Handbag I also got another unexpected though pleasant surprise. A Greater Spotted Woodpecker was seen in my garden... or so I'm told. I didn't see him myself. I missed him. I've seen them before on my travels but never in my own garden. Maybe he'll come back.
A few days later the book arrives. There is still no sign of my elusive new visitor and the weather has gone to clouds and showers, turning the garden into an unfit place for either bird watching or book reading. I start the book anyway and begin to get acquainted with the main protagonist. I like Leonard almost from the start. He has a quality that reminds me of my Grandad, who was probably one of my most favourite people in existence. But Leonard is far too fanciful, and on occasion silly, for that comparison to stand much scrutiny. I soon realize that a closer mark for comparison might be myself. The clowning about, the wandering imagination and sadly the Ta-da! moments are all things I've been guilty of. The paragraph about Leonard not being able to stop himself mimicking accents even elicited a 'Bloody Hell!' of self recognition from me.
The characterisations throughout are one of the books strengths. The book never overloads with too many characters at a time. You can imagine these people having a life beyond the last page of the novel. I caught myself wondering what Leonard thought of the new bloke on Springwatch this year. And was he missing Bill? Was he drawn to the science or the aesthetics of nature? Probably a mix of the two I conclude. I'm glad he learnt that ducks aren't just for kids. Ducks are great.... Read more ›
A few days later the book arrives. There is still no sign of my elusive new visitor and the weather has gone to clouds and showers, turning the garden into an unfit place for either bird watching or book reading. I start the book anyway and begin to get acquainted with the main protagonist. I like Leonard almost from the start. He has a quality that reminds me of my Grandad, who was probably one of my most favourite people in existence. But Leonard is far too fanciful, and on occasion silly, for that comparison to stand much scrutiny. I soon realize that a closer mark for comparison might be myself. The clowning about, the wandering imagination and sadly the Ta-da! moments are all things I've been guilty of. The paragraph about Leonard not being able to stop himself mimicking accents even elicited a 'Bloody Hell!' of self recognition from me.
The characterisations throughout are one of the books strengths. The book never overloads with too many characters at a time. You can imagine these people having a life beyond the last page of the novel. I caught myself wondering what Leonard thought of the new bloke on Springwatch this year. And was he missing Bill? Was he drawn to the science or the aesthetics of nature? Probably a mix of the two I conclude. I'm glad he learnt that ducks aren't just for kids. Ducks are great.... Read more ›
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4.8 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Blue Handbag
If I met someone like Leonard, the protagonist of this novel, I know I would find him intensely irritating, because in my opinion he is one of those people who tries too hard to be... Read more
Published on 16 Sep 2010 by Steele_in_Beds
5.0 out of 5 stars
Truly engaging
A truly lovely book, gently incisive, witty and engaging, and nothing whatsoever like its cover!
The Blue Handbag by Fiona Robyn is utterly delightful. Read more
The Blue Handbag by Fiona Robyn is utterly delightful. Read more
Published on 17 Mar 2010 by C L Hawley
4.0 out of 5 stars
A warm bath of a read
Reading The Blue Handbag was like slipping into a warm bath. It's a profoundly gentle read, and is none the worse for that. Read more
Published on 12 Oct 2009 by StripyReader
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fiona Robyn writes with remarkable perception...
To deal with the death of his wife Rose must be hard enough, but when he discovers some items in her blue handbag Leonard, a gentle soul, has to contend with the possibility that... Read more
Published on 2 Sep 2009 by Mrs. T. Newton
4.0 out of 5 stars
An utter delight
I'm not a great fan of chick-lit. I've tried to write it and it came out paranormal romance but Fiona Robyn does it very well indeed. Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2009 by Rachel Green
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