The Governor

by Lynda La Plante

THE GOVERNOR

Genres: Audiobook, Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

336 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 1995

About the author

Lynda La Plante, CBE (born Lynda Titchmarsh) is a British author, screenwriter, and erstwhile actress (her performances in Rentaghost and other programmes were under her stage name of Lynda Marchal), best known for writing the Prime Suspect television crime series.

Her first TV series as a scriptwriter was the six part robbery series Widows, in 1983, in which the widows of four armed robbers carry out a heist planned by their deceased husbands.

In 1991 ITV released Prime Suspect which has now run to seven series and stars Helen Mirren as DCI Jane Tennison. (In the United States Prime Suspect airs on PBS as part of the anthology program Mystery!) In 1993 La Plante won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for her work on the series. In 1992 she wrote at TV movie called Seekers, starring Brenda Fricker and Josette Simon, produced by Sarah Lawson.

She formed her own television production company, La Plante Productions, in 1994 and as La Plante Productions she wrote and produced the sequel to Widows, the equally gutsy She's Out (ITV, 1995). The name "La Plante" comes from her marriage to writer Richard La Plante, author of the book Mantis and Hog Fever. La Plante divorced Lynda in the early 1990s.

Her output continued with The Governor (ITV 1995-96), a series focusing on the female governor of a high security prison, and was followed by a string of ratings pulling miniseries: the psycho killer nightmare events of Trial & Retribution (ITV 1997-), the widows' revenge of the murders of their husbands & children Bella Mafia (1997) (starring Vanessa Redgrave), the undercover police unit operations of Supply and Demand (ITV 1998), videogame/internet murder mystery Killer Net (Channel 4 1998) and the female criminal profiler cases of Mind Games (ITV 2001).

Two additions to the Trial and Retribution miniseries were broadcast during 2006.

Reviews

[Coyney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kept on getting confused who was who

[Pat K · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Like other La Plante female characters, I really disliked the main character, Helen. So much so that I considered, after about 4-5 chapters, ditching the book.
I continued listening because it’s a very good story.
I’ve read a lot of crime fiction, and I went into this book with the usual, “lock ‘em up and throw away the key”, attitude. But this book challenges the common idea about prison and prisoners, and the purpose of incarceration. Is rehabilitation possible in a prison system designed for punishment.

[Dorota Winch · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. This was something completely different to what I expected, but in a good way. It was quite refreshing seeing the prison life from the inside, whether this is close to the reality or not. So far, my favourite from Lynda La Plante.

My only criticism of the audiobook was that sometimes I was lost trying to recognise who was who.

[Nicky Mottram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio version of this book 📚- an entertaining listen and a real insight into prison life. Great strong female character

[Keith Weller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book as always she always goes into the smallest of details that makes you think you are in the story now book 2

[Lynette Ackman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one! I loved the TV series “Wentworth” and this book had a similar feel to me. Loved the treatment of both the inmate characters as well as the prison staff. Nice depth.

[Rory · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. Not one of my favourites.

I like the way it was broken down into different sections.

I didn't like the governor. Didn't warm to her at all or care about her career.

The inmates were interesting.

I was listening on audio and will listen to the next one in the series.

[Gareth C]

I find the whole story very patronising and I cannot decide if I am prepared to spend another 8 or 9 hours listening to it. Why?
1. There is an assumption that by listening to classical music, you are a higher being and punk rock is just noise. Punk may well be noise, but to some, so is classical music.
2. The description of Yorkshire and its accent is just plain rude. You would not get away with it about another country, so do not do it for a county of the UK
3. The Governor is arrogant, self-opinionated, selfish and overall obnoxious. I have started work in a few companies in my life and if I had gone in with her approach, I would have failed. Respect is earned, not handed out because of your job title.
4. Contrary to the message throughout the story, not all men are thick, stupid good for nothings. You would not say it or portray it about women. The story is misandric in the extreme and La Plante should be ashamed of herself for writing such bigotry.

I found myself just willing her to fail. The TV interview was hilarious. Oh, look at me arriving like a princess - to be shot down in flames and then spit her dummy out because it wasn't the Helen appreciation society.

[Evelyn Horsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usually like most of her books but this was not her best.

[Genevieve Paquette · Rating 3 out of 5]

It read exactly like what it was, a novelization of a TV series. It was somewhat entertaining, but it was hard to get invested in characters who were largely interchangeable and had little time for the reader to get to know them.
It was also very much a product of its time. A lot of talking about how sexy the titular governor is, lots of talk of her breasts, and, most horrifyingly... One of the other staff members refers to her (not sure if aloud or mentally) as...
Miss Fragrant Drawers.
I can't. Everything about that makes me cringe. Full body, head to toe cringe. A cringe so hard and so prolonged that it hurts. Who the heck SAYS that? How does someone even come up with that?! Fragrant. Drawers. I absolutely cannot.
I don't even get it. Is it a "look at her, she thinks her poop doesn't stink" or is it literally a comment on the smell of her vaginal secretions?
Uuurgh.
Her drawers were referred to by the same character again, in different ways. Iron Drawers, once, if I recall. Again, urgh.
The 90s TV sexuality was one thing. The conservative view of prison systems was another. The young governor goes from idealist/reformer to hardcore crime and punishment in less than a year. It wasn't exactly fair and balanced...
The one thing that stood out, though, was the fact that in the 90s, prisoners still had to "slop out." I was stunned. Cells didn't have toilets. They had buckets. In the 1990s. And people complained about the idea of toilets being installed. It blew my mind. Then again, my own experience of English plumbing in the outside world was pretty ridiculous, so...

[Morgan Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story, but the first part felt independent from the rest, almost as if they were separate books: a prequel and a sequel. The story was engaging though the addition of so many insignificant characters made it feel confusing. I was a bit let down by such a major plot line (*spoiler: helicopter escape) wasn't even mentioned again or brought to a conclusion. I'll read the second book because I want to see if all the above are resolved there.

I listened on Audible and the narrator is absolutely one of my favorites as of recently and she made this story infinitely better.

[Kirstin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously can’t get enough of Lynda la Plante right now! I’m listening to them on audible so I get to enjoy not just the story but the performances too.

As with all of the books I’ve read by Lynda la Plante, the book is so well written, I feel like I’m there standing at Helen Hewitts side!

I felt the fear of certain prisoners,the threats of violence & also the joy & sorrow for others.

I felt for Norman Jones, firstly I felt fear but then sorrow at how he was misunderstood. Kelly who made such a bad decision & changed his life for the worse.

Can’t wait to read (listen) part 2!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an intense look into the prison system. The difficulties of men all forced to live together in an oppressed environment are shown in all the expected harshness. Throw in the vagaries of the guards and it’s a volcano always ready to erupt and erupt it does. It’s not a comfortable listen by any means and and confronts the reader/listener with many questions about how incarceration can work. It was extremely well narrated by Lucy Price-Lewis

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Governor had me from the beginning of the book. Lynda La Plante sure knows how write a great book!

Although the book is almost 30 years old, it would still make a great book group book. It still contains questions we struggle with in today’s prisons.

Even if a reader is not interested in discussing the topics the book considers, this is an interesting, entertaining read. I recommend it.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

12 I am almost sure that I have read this before. Still, I am not entirely sure that it has aged well. Apart from the obvious lack of technology much of the ‘radical’ thinking is a bit of old hat now. That and the lack of credibility in some of the reasons behind the actions of some of the side characters. Recommended to the normal crew that like Ms Le Plante’s writings.

[Redmakesmyheartsing · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this on audible and loved it. The characterisation is brilliant, the story well written and gritty have immediately bought book 2 - Lucy Price-Lewis is fantastic and brings Linda's book to life 👌🏻

[Neely Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strong woman with a vision—that’s what Helen brought with her to the high-security men’s prison where she is the youngest ever. What she faces is not only a prison full of men who expect her to be weak but t so does her all-male staff. Good book, tough job, strong woman.

[Emziethebookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

The governer wasn't what a expected from the very first page at all.
Yes the books plot was good but what a think brought this one all together was the characters throughout.
I did enjoy the governer and I can't wait to see what else is in store from this author.

[Angela Oatham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the TV series and this is a faithful retelling of it. As always from Lynda La Plante very entertaining stuff.

[Pauline Haney · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did like this book at all ☹️

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook

Although long winded, this could have been much more streamlined, rather than come across autobiographical.

Interesting and intriguing

[Anna Kristín · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 Dálítið löng og ég náði að rugla öllu þessu liði saman. Stundum var ég ekki viss hvort þetta væru fangar eða verðir. En að öðru leyti fín.

[David Highton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A ‘novelisation’ of a TV series and a bit ponderous

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have fond memories of watching this as a tv series years ago.
It was still interesting enough to hold me focused despite it’s length (15h)
Good narration

[Lis o donovan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love Lynda’s books but this just did not do it for me..but I’ll still try part two 🙂

[Sammy Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down

[Shanzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listen to this book on audible.

I found it feeling very long and very drawn out with multiple stories incased in the novel itself. I almost feel as if this could’ve been broken down into multiple novels spanning the specific timeframe. There were quite a few parts of the story that I did enjoy and that did make me smile but other parts that frustrated me and made me almost stop listening.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a slow start, I battled to get into it, but carried on regardless. Am glad I did. I felt though that it just ended without a satisfying ending, but later learnt it was part of a series. I doubt I'll read the second one very soon as it wasn't that gripping.