The Skeleton Woman

by Renee .

Rose Anthony’s life has just become much more complicated. There’s a baby abandoned on her doorstep, and long-kept secrets are about to fly into the open … Bogged down in the drama of a recent illness, the hurt of a serious row with her lover, and the anxiety of waiting to hear how her wall hanging has fared in the prestigious Stacy Copetition, Rose has no room for this latest dilemma. Scrawled on a card in black felt tip the words ‘For Rose Anthony’ leave no doubt that the baby was left for her. But whose baby is it? What secrets did Rose’s late mother, Ada, take to the grave" And how can the Skeleton Woman make the truth come out in the end? The Skeleton Woman, Renee’s fifth novel, is a a tightly plotted and entertaining read, powerfully told.

265 pages, Paperback

First published November 11, 2002

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Renée writes beautifully and I enjoyed reading this book, especially while convalescing; it's an undemanding, entertaining read.

But the book skates over lots of topics and plot points; I would've liked to spend more time with, for example, the relationship between Rose's mother and her second partner, or the schoolgirl's accusation against Rose, or Claude's history. Some characters seem like they're meant to be significant but then are never really developed (like Bridget, who is said near the end of the book to have "settled into their lives" which is "amazing"... but how or why did that happen?).

Ultimately I think that this could have been a great 2 or 3 book series, rather than a single novel.

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great first sentence - "It's that edgy time just before the equinoctial gales slash all the weeping cherry blossoms to smithereens and break the hearts of the early irises." I have read that sentence 5 times and not got beyond it yet. Perfection.

Loved the characterisation in this, even down to the extremely minor characters (the ones mentioned once in passing). Brilliant.

Didn't like the ending though, but that says more about me than the way Renee wrote it I think!

Still book of the year for me so far, it's May and this is the first book I've thought was really worth it, you know those books that you have on your shelves because to give them away would mean giving away an arm or a leg, or life itself.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tale of the skeleton woman, holding then revealing secrets when the time was right, had significance for Rose throughout her life. Now as she approaches her 50th birthday the skeleton woman starts tapping. The arrival of a baby in a tomatoes box on her doorstep with the attached note; For Rose Anthony, simply adds to a series of dilemmas already complicating her life and leads to the revelation of many secrets held within her family. I found this a little frustrating to read at first with present events becoming the back story as Rose paused frequently to reminisce. This was Renée's tool for developing the characters and telling the main story. The story became more intriguing and fascinating to read as it progressed. 2.5 to 3 stars.