One of my favourite books has always been Three Things About Elsie so I was excited to read A Tidy Ending by the same Author Joanna Cannon.
Narrated by: Lissa Berry
Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 28-04-22
Language: English
Publisher: HarperCollins
I listened to the book on Audible which is the way I ‘read’ most of my books. I always advise you to listen to the sample first to make sure you are happy with the narrator because you will be listening to them for a long while. You can join Audible and get your first book for free for 30 days. Then it’s £7.99 per month for one credit which can be used against any book of your choice. You also get a lot of special offers and freebies.
A Tidy Ending – The Blurb
Linda lives on a nice, normal street.
She has a nice, normal husband and a nice, normal life.
But Linda isn’t entirely satisfied. And then the murders start….
From the bestselling author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep and Three Things About Elsie, this is a compelling, sinister and perceptive novel about keeping yourself to yourself.
After all, the grass isn’t always greener. Especially if you’re six feet beneath it.
My Review of A Tidy Ending
I loved Three Things about Elsie, it was intriguing, surprising and a really good read. Joanna Cannon is an author that I knew I would enjoy. A Tidy Ending was quite different though, much darker.
The main character, Linda, is not really very likeable. I’m sure everyone knows someone like Linda and would probably avoid her. But, there are things that make you feel for her too. She has had lived through some difficult times and her life is really quite mundane now, but she has that slightly crazy edge about her. You can’t help feel sorry for the way she is treated by her husband and how people try to take advantage of her.
But as the story progresses, in Linda’s voice, you get the idea that things are maybe not as they seem. Linda is certainly a lot more clever than she is given credit for. There are parts of the story that remind me of Eleanor Oliphant, but this story is even darker.
After a seemingly slow moving story about a normal everyday person and their mundane life, you are left at the end feeling quite stunned at how clever it all is. It’s also incredibly dark and scary. Would you be friends with Linda?
There are things that you might work out early on, but the ending is sure to shock and surprise you.
I wasn’t too sure about this book. I did enjoy it, even though I found it a bit slow at times. The ending was really good and it certainly gives you lots to think about afterwards.
As an audio book I think the narrator was perfect as Linda, she came across really well and totally believable.
My Review of Three Things About Elsie
My Review of Eleonor Oliphant is completely Fine.
I have a girlfriend who also only listens to Audible books. I still love to read words. #MMBC
This sounds like a really interesting and clever book. It sounds like you enjoyed it. x
This sounds like a neat story; though I do tend to struggle a bit with books where I don’t really like the main character.
Without giving too much away, I hope, It’s good not to like the main character in this book.
I absolutely loved this book. The ending really made me think. As you say, it’s pretty dark, but also very mundane. It is very clever.
I would be interested to listen to it, to see what ‘Linda’ sounds like.