4 Stars from me
I picked this book up with huge intrigue knowing that Louise Doughty was the acclaimed author of Apple Tree Yard.
In this book, we meet Bird who initially is going about life as normal and then suddenly is on the run and it becomes clear this is no ordinary woman!
This book has a strong espionage thriller vibe and I found it deeply engrossing as it follows Bird on her quest to escape her current life undetected. Not knowing why she was running, or who from/to added an extra frisson of excitement into this already edgy tale.
As you would expect from the author of Apple Tree Yard, A Bird in Winter is beautifully written, with richly described scenes and settings and clearly defined characters. I appreciated the gentle unfolding of the story as much as the pacier, racier bits and overall found it to be engrossing read and I hope it too will appear on our TV screens.
My thanks to the author, NetGalley and Faber and Faber for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Blurb:Bird is a woman on the run. One minute, she’s in a meeting in her office in Birmingham – the next, she’s walking out on her job, her home, her life. It’s a day she thought might come, and one she’s prepared for – but nothing could prepare her for what will happen next.
As she flees north using multiple disguises, Bird has to work out who exactly is on her trail, and who – if anyone – she can trust. Like many people, she has fantasised about escape for a long time, but now it’s actually happening. Is her greatest fear that she will be hunted down, or that she will never be found?
Read and Rated 