The White Cuckoo

by Annie Ireson

When twenty-seven year old Tamasyn Hargreaves travels to the heart of Northamptonshire to fulfill a deathbed promise to her mother, she soon begins to sense that something surreal and supernatural has drawn her there.Who are the strange children she keeps bumping into? What secrets are concealed within the contents of a box of memorabilia she is given? Why does she look uncannily like a photograph of Jessie Smith, who gave birth prematurely in 1910 after being raped by a nobleman?As Tammy reveals shocking secrets about her own family, she soon realises she must resolve the mysteries of the past before she can keep her promise to her mother.The White Cuckoo is a story of two women whose lives connect through time. Is destiny just the past, rewritten?

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 15, 2012

Reviews

[Lizzie Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like stories where the past and the present interconnect then The White Cuckoo is for you. After I'd finished it, all the layers of the plot settled on top of each other like golden mille feuille as the themes, plots and sub-plots were resolved satisfyingly. I loved the whole concept of Tamsyn setting out to unravel the mystery of the possessions in Alice's Box and the impact those discoveries would have - not just for her family, but for the community. We live times where everyone knows everyone else's business and there are few family secrets. It's easy to forget how, in earlier times, unpleasant/unpalatable events were swept under the carpet or kept out of sight - for fear of retribution or bringing shame on the family. However, as we find in The White Cuckoo, the past has to be confronted and dealt with in order to make sense of the imperfect present we all inhabit.

The writer's style is very visual and I had the feeling of watching a film unfold rather than reading a novel on a kindle. The characters are well rounded and their actions make sense as the plot unfolds. Annie Ireson handles the themes of paranormal mystery and romance adeptly; and I must admit that the paranormal elements of the story sent a shiver down my spine more than once. I enjoyed the description of the Northamptonshire countryside and the full rounded, three dimensional characters who stay with you when you finish reading. I look forward to reading more from this debut author.

[Aunty Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story, written by a local author. Don't be put off by the somewhat overblown writing style at the start, or the paranormal description (I really don't like paranormal stuff but though that this was charming).
I loved the characters and was really drawn into the story, so much that I was sorry to reach the end.
The book is set in a fictional village in Northamptonshire and I had fun trying to work out which village it was set in. I couldn't work it out and suspect that it may have been drawn on several local villages.
Annie Ireson has written a trilogy set in Kettering which I also recommend, especially for local readers.

[Heather Paladiino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book of the week

The most amazing story , I couldn't put the book down.
It keeps you gripped to the very . This is the 4th book, Annie Ireson. She doesn't disappoint. Amazing writer.

[Karen Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the opening chapter I was hooked into this beautifully written novel. I was right there with adolescent Harry and young Jess in the woods, as she goes into labour, rooting for them to find a way to survive.

The story starts and finishes in 1910 and the period detail brings the era vividly to life, but the modern day setting that makes up the bulk of the story is just as evocative. There's an intriguing - and rather chilling - supernatural element, which I enjoyed, and all the characters are well-drawn - especially Tammy. I was absorbed into her life to the point where I didn't want the book to end. Some wonderful lines too ... "Her lovely, gentle, wooden Dad, captured in his dark icy orbit of grief and loneliness. She flinched with the weight of knowing that she was his sun." Fantastic.

I really enjoy novels that cover big themes of family secrets, lies and divided loyalties and destiny, and how the past affects the present, and the author has handled them skillfully, pulling all the strands together in a deeply satisfying way.

[Emily Kestrel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you believe in love at first sight? Do you enjoy sentimental, feel-good stories with a touch of the paranormal? Do you like endings so happy they warm the cockles of your heart? If so, I predict you will love this book. As for myself, I am a bit cynical and prefer fiction that's somewhat dark and edgy, so I don't think I'm the right judge of The White Cuckoo. It's a story about a young woman who goes to a small village in England to find her half-sister, falls madly in love with a bloke she's just met, gets involved in a century-old mystery with a supernatural tinge, and (naturally) lives happily ever after. The writing is fine and the story did hold my interest. This is one of those cases where I honestly can't fault the book or the author; it just wasn't my cup of tea.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories of the paranormal are at their most intriguing when the main characters are normal people in normal situations . And so it is with White Cuckoo . In order to honour her mother’s dying wish ,Tammy Hargreaves sets out to trace the half-sister she has just recently learned about. But she does not have to make the journey alone as ghosts from the past guide her in the direction both they and she need to go. A sometimes scary, sometimes thought provoking , always absorbing tale that spans centuries and generations before finally , and very satisfactorily , laying all the ghosts to rest. Congratulations ,Anne.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, especially as it was written by a local author and the setting was in my home county so I could really visualise the places and people as the story unfolded. There were some slightly unrealistic plot points (not least the supernatural elements), and as always, the plot hangs on communication (or lack of it!) between the characters, but overall this was an enjoyable read that ticked all the boxes I wanted it to. I will read more from this author (although I've read everything by her now as it stands)! More please!

[Linda Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it was filled with a mixture of family history, mystery, love and crime and also a touch of the paranormal, this book tells the story of Tammy who goes to fill her late mothers request to return to the village her parents came from and find Tammy's long lost sister. Highly recommend reading.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting take on a paranormal story, I particularly liked mix of some historical and some contemporary strands.

On the whole very well written, although it dragged a little for me towards end end.

Exceptional production values with no errors, or bug bears come to that. That just leaves a highlight of the writing, which will be detailed on my blog www.toodlesbookclub.blogspot.com.

[Eileen Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, I could picture every detail, easy to read, worth a read.