A Cast Of Smiles

by Amanda Brookfield

Veronica's group of friends are well-to-do professionals, intent on keeping up a charade of well-being and success. On the surface everything is Julian and Veronica get married; Teddy tells good jokes; Gloria chases men. Trouble brews, however, when the sinister Katherine Vermont becomes obsessed with the deceitful activities of her ex-lover, Julian. The tragedy that finally erupts shows the high price that can be paid for emotional dishonesty -- to oneself as well as to others.

Genres: Fiction

233 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

I have two elder sisters and a twin brother who is much quieter than me and with much longer legs. Our Dad was in the Foreign Office so we spent our childhood living in far-flung places like Shanghai and Stockholm. In fact, until the age of 32 I had never spent more than 3 years under the same roof...it's left me with the opposite of 'itchy feet'.
I fell in love with writing aged 11 when my class was asked to write a ghost story - that thrill of being able to make it all up! Studying English at Oxford was a dream come true, but then real life got in the way and I started a career in advertising, climbing the greasy pole for four years, helping sell washing powder and cold remedies.
Aged 25, I got the chance to go and live in Argentina. I left advertising, set myself up as a freelance journalist and wrote my first novel,'Alice Alone' which was published (to critical acclaim!) in 1989. I haven't stopped,or looked back, since.
I am now published by Penguin. At the last count I had produced fifteen novels and two sons. There will be no more offspring, but lots of books I hope.

Reviews

[Helene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Veronica’s friends are all well-to-do professionals. On the surface, everything is fine – Julian and Veronica get married, Teddy tells good jokes and Gloria chases men. Until it all goes wrong.

This book wasn’t gripping and didn’t draw the readers into the plot. It seemed detached. Language choices seemed too simplistic for the storyline but it’s a good idea. Brookfield is a promising writer but needs practise.

[Harry Tomos · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed reading it, liked getting involved in the characters lives, I liked the fact that all the characters saw the truth in each other and then made a decision whether or not they believed it and/or whether or not they would do something about it..