The Judge's Daughter

by Ruth Hamilton

Set in the beautiful Lancashire moorside town of Skirlaugh,  The Judge's Daughter  is the stirring story of two very different families whose lives have become inextricably tangled. Agnes Makepeace has always been courageous and strong-minded and on the surface, she couldn’t be more unlike the chilly, reserved Helen Spencer. Agnes knows there is a mystery to her own background and is determined to discover the truth about her past. She believes the key to unlock the secret is held with husband’s employer, Judge Zachary Spencer of Lambert House—a mean-spirited widower and solitary man. Judge Spencer has long neglected his daughter Helen and notices her even less when he takes a new wife. But he has underestimated both the extent of his daughter’s misery and her determination to enact her revenge. Helen’s new-found confidence causes her to behave in a way that will have a lasting, and shocking impact on both families and, surprisingly, leads to a lifelong friendship with Agnes. Yet it is only when the broodingly silent house on Skirlaugh Rise ceases to hold its breath and deliver the answers that Agnes has been seeking that she can finally find the peace of mind she has always longed for.

528 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2007

About the author

Ruth Hamilton was one of North West England's most popular writers. She was the bestselling author of twenty-five novels, including Spinning Jenny, The Bells of Scotland Road, Mulligan's Yard, Mersey View and That Liverpool Girl. She was born in Bolton, which is the setting for many of her novels, and spent most of her life in Lancashire.

(source: http://www.panmacmillan.com/author/ru...)

Reviews

[Carol Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book... an easy five stars. I’ve read a few of Ruth Hamilton’s books, all well written. An author of real caliber with the sad exception that in one of her books, the rather ongoing grating old jokes just drove me crazy! The book in question was however such a good story I took it as comedic licence.
I’ve really enjoyed “The Judges Daughter” Her problem solving skills are So not typical, far more rational and intelligent.
She has a few balls bouncing around at once in this one.. every one of them landing perfectly!
All the characters were rich and well formed.

[Renee Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad I perservered with this book. It was a little slow to begin with and I was almost going to stop, but as I kept reading I was so drawn in by the mystery and characters. Great read!

[Ummi Farhana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book starts off slow. Too slow at times for my preference but nevertheless, I enjoyed this book. I even shed few tears towards the end of the book.

The Judge's Daughter tells the story of Helen Spencer, the daughter of Judge Zachary Spencer, whose life intertwined with Agnes Makepeace. There's Helen's story and there's Agnes' story. And there's the judge. Mean, power hungry, dictating, the judge is feared and despised by all the people he met, most of all his daughter. The judges has secrets. Secrets that could alter the lives of some people. And secrets that, in the end resulted in his own death.

There are some fascinating characters as well. There's Pop/Fred Grimshaw, Agnes' lively grandfather; Lucy and Mags, Agnes' best friends and few others.

I'd say that The Judge's Daughter is not my usual fare but I certainly found the book to be interesting.

[Agnes Jackson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a strange book. I would call it “Woman’s Own” type of story although that may date me. The plot was unlikely but the characters strangely interesting. I was given this by a friend and would never have chosen it. The cover design itself would have put me off. I wonder if the writer of the description on the back had actually read the book!

[Gina Du · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice easy read. Surprising ending.

[Linda Hobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow start,wasnt sure if I wanted to carry on reading it,glad I did I loved it ,not what I expected

[Sushmita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rightly dramatic, gripping plot, shocking twist and a just ending. An amazing read!

[Anne Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another audiobook, this, at first, seemed just another family saga located in Hamilton's home town, Bolton. Much of the early part of the book is humourous wtih many sayings with which I'm familiar, being from that area myself. But there are hidden and sometimes murky depths and it becomes part mystery, part ghost story. The eponymous judge's daughter is Helen Spencer, cruelly neglected by her arrogant and unfeeling father, making her a complex and troubled woman. It isn't until her father brings home a new wife, with whom she becomes firm friends, that her life really begins. Holding the story together is the Grimshaw/Makepeace family, its kingpin being Agnes Makepeace. Helen and Agnes become firm friends, despite their differing backgrounds. It is only much later that they discover they are linked even more closely. Be warned, though, this book does not have a traditionally happy ending but it is a satisfying one with all the loose strands brought together in a satisfying and climatic conclusion.

[Sam Woodfield]

I bought this book on a whim from a book sale and wasn't sure that I would like it but it was an excellent novel. The book was very well constructed, the plt flowed and the characters were very engaging. I loved the way Hamilton created so many different personalities in her charcters, all of which were as real and engaging as the others. I was abit unsure at first about the ending of the novel being based in the present while the rest was set in the 1960's, but it actually worked really well and the transition between the times was very well done.

Overall this was an excellent and engaging novel which kept me turning the pages until the end. I will be passing this book around my friends and will look out for more of Hamiltons novels to read in the future. A really great read!

[Anh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tragic novel, not as romance and love as it was advertised. I was obsessed for days. Anyway, good book.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book - enjoyable story some predictable but with a very surprising ending.

[Michelle Ohara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written book

[Vicky Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at the Vila I was staying in. I thoroughly enjoyed it and found I couldn't put it down. Excellently written x