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Old Bones
Diana and her sister, Antonia, are house-sharing spinsters who have never got over their respective first loves. Diana owns a gift shop, but rarely works there, and Antonia is unemployed, having lost her teaching job at an all girls’ school following a shocking outburst in the classroom after enduring years of torment. Antonia enjoys her 'nice' magazines, Diana is a regular at the local library and they treat themselves to coffee and cake once a week in the village café.
Naomi lives alone, haunted by the failure of her two marriages. She works in the library, doesn’t get on with her younger colleagues and rarely cooks herself a proper meal. Secretly she longs for a Boden frock.
When a body is discovered in the local quarry, all three women’s lives are turned upside down. And when Diana’s old flame Gill turns up unexpectedly, tensions finally spill over and threaten to destroy the outwardly peaceful lives all three women have carefully constructed around themselves.
Helen Kitson takes us back to the Shropshire village of Morevale in this, her brilliant second novel, which exposes the fragilities and strengths of four remarkably unremarkable older women.
Naomi lives alone, haunted by the failure of her two marriages. She works in the library, doesn’t get on with her younger colleagues and rarely cooks herself a proper meal. Secretly she longs for a Boden frock.
When a body is discovered in the local quarry, all three women’s lives are turned upside down. And when Diana’s old flame Gill turns up unexpectedly, tensions finally spill over and threaten to destroy the outwardly peaceful lives all three women have carefully constructed around themselves.
Helen Kitson takes us back to the Shropshire village of Morevale in this, her brilliant second novel, which exposes the fragilities and strengths of four remarkably unremarkable older women.
- GenresFiction
Audible Audio
Published April 16, 2021
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About the author
Helen Kitson
7 books40 followersI live in Worcester with my husband (YA author Elon Dann) and our two grown-up children. I hold an MA in Art History and work as a legal secretary.
My first poetry collection was nominated for the Forward Best First Collection Prize. In 1996 I was joint winner of the BBC Wildlife Magazine Poet of the Year competition. In 2016 I was shortlisted for the Dundee Book Prize.
My short fiction has appeared in many magazines, including Ambit, The Reader, Feminist Review, and Stand.
My novels, 'The Last Words of Madeleine Anderson' and 'Old Bones', are published by Louise Walters Books and set in the fictional Shropshire village of Morevale.
My first poetry collection was nominated for the Forward Best First Collection Prize. In 1996 I was joint winner of the BBC Wildlife Magazine Poet of the Year competition. In 2016 I was shortlisted for the Dundee Book Prize.
My short fiction has appeared in many magazines, including Ambit, The Reader, Feminist Review, and Stand.
My novels, 'The Last Words of Madeleine Anderson' and 'Old Bones', are published by Louise Walters Books and set in the fictional Shropshire village of Morevale.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 4, 2020
Fantastic second novel by this author. The story of three gentile ladies in their sixties, spinster sisters Diana and Antonia Littlehales, and divorcee Naomi Wilkinson, living in a village where curtains twitch like mad. When the bones of a man are found in a local beauty spot, their peaceful lives are disrupted and old scores and hurts rise to the surface. It's brilliantly done, character driven but with a compelling mystery to keep you rivetted. All three women are childless, all subject to jealousy, regrets, anger. A terrific read. I honestly couldn't put it down.
February 6, 2021
I was lucky enough to be sent a copy of this book from its publisher after entering a competition on Twitter .I’m not sure I would have read it otherwise as it isn’t my usual style of book .There is however something delightful about reading a book about which you know nothing and finding it as delightful as this book is
My one complaint is that I think the main characters could do with being a tiny bit older as it was they felt too close to my own age and I like to delude myself I’m still young in my mid 50s !
The books title refers to two things the literal set of old bones when a skeleton is discovered in a disused quarry and the 3 local women who’s closeted lives are changed by their finding .
As we get older we all slip into cosy routines to give our life structure and many spend time remembering things from our youth that gave us joy or pain .I felt the descriptions of the tiny lives of these women sometimes unbearingly poignant .In lockdown 2021 as I read this my own also feels too tiny and small things examined in great detail take up so much mental energy .The books women seem so real to me .
The book is gentle and like it’s subject matter subtly claustrophobic I very much enjoyed sharing the character’s lives whilst I read abs now look forward to reading the first book by the same author I also received at the same time
My one complaint is that I think the main characters could do with being a tiny bit older as it was they felt too close to my own age and I like to delude myself I’m still young in my mid 50s !
The books title refers to two things the literal set of old bones when a skeleton is discovered in a disused quarry and the 3 local women who’s closeted lives are changed by their finding .
As we get older we all slip into cosy routines to give our life structure and many spend time remembering things from our youth that gave us joy or pain .I felt the descriptions of the tiny lives of these women sometimes unbearingly poignant .In lockdown 2021 as I read this my own also feels too tiny and small things examined in great detail take up so much mental energy .The books women seem so real to me .
The book is gentle and like it’s subject matter subtly claustrophobic I very much enjoyed sharing the character’s lives whilst I read abs now look forward to reading the first book by the same author I also received at the same time
November 14, 2020
I couldn't read this book in one sitting: the three protagonists, sisters Antonia and Diana, and librarian Naomi, live so unremittingly inside their own heads that it was too overwhelming.
These three older women are stuck in the distant past, their physical lives barely matter to them. It's the inner worlds of teenage and young adult love that have caught Diana and Antonia in an interminable hamster wheel of existence, and for Naomi it's the disappearance of a much-hated husband twenty years previous.
The book is a real lesson to anyone reading it about the consequences of not moving on, not growing up, of not looking at oneself in an honest way, instead always avoiding facing up to life and what it throws at you. Antonia and Diana can't seem to do without one another, yet being together is a toxic existence for them both. Naomi fares little better with her internalised bitterness thrown out at all and sundry. They are all living in fear, not living with love.
This has made them quite awful people with little self awareness, being inside their heads as a reader is a difficult experience. Diana has abandoned her (physical) shop, Antonia her (physical) career. Naomi is the only one with a small grasp still of living in the real world and who, by the end of the book has made some little peace with the past. She at least has a chance to come back to the world. Meanwhile Diana and Antonia continue their copendent downward spiral.
It's not a happy, carefree read that's for sure. It's almost a warning for middle aged women!
One thing I do take exception to is the back cover description of the women as "elderly". Women in their early sixties aren't in any way elderly!
These three older women are stuck in the distant past, their physical lives barely matter to them. It's the inner worlds of teenage and young adult love that have caught Diana and Antonia in an interminable hamster wheel of existence, and for Naomi it's the disappearance of a much-hated husband twenty years previous.
The book is a real lesson to anyone reading it about the consequences of not moving on, not growing up, of not looking at oneself in an honest way, instead always avoiding facing up to life and what it throws at you. Antonia and Diana can't seem to do without one another, yet being together is a toxic existence for them both. Naomi fares little better with her internalised bitterness thrown out at all and sundry. They are all living in fear, not living with love.
This has made them quite awful people with little self awareness, being inside their heads as a reader is a difficult experience. Diana has abandoned her (physical) shop, Antonia her (physical) career. Naomi is the only one with a small grasp still of living in the real world and who, by the end of the book has made some little peace with the past. She at least has a chance to come back to the world. Meanwhile Diana and Antonia continue their copendent downward spiral.
It's not a happy, carefree read that's for sure. It's almost a warning for middle aged women!
One thing I do take exception to is the back cover description of the women as "elderly". Women in their early sixties aren't in any way elderly!
February 25, 2021
The discovery of human bones in an abandoned quarry in the Shropshire village of Morevale is the catalyst for events affecting the mundane lives of three women.
Spinster sisters Diana and Antonia Littlehales live together, Diana at 63 being slightly older has a difficult relationship with Antonia who she often seems to resent having to live with. Diana looked after their mother for many years until her death and had looked forward to spending the rest of her life as she pleased, but instead Antonia landed on her doorstep, having left her teaching job under a cloud and now they are stuck with each other. However despite their petty bickering, it seems they cannot either live with or without each other.
...“Over the years I’ve done my best to make allowances for my sister. If she had only apologised about the doll and many other similar but more significant incidents I might have forgiven her. Most of the time I keep the lid on my still-simmering rage, but I can only continue to do that by treating Antonia as a halfwit, someone to be pitied”.
Librarian Naomi Wilkinson is of a similar age and lives with the memories of her two failed marriages; the humiliation of the first and the anger of the second still haunts her. She is rather a prickly character, not easy to befriend and keeps to herself however the discovery of the remains brings memories to the surface which she would rather stay buried.
Told by Diana in the first person and by Antonia and Naomi in the third, all three women reflect on what their lives could have been and missed opportunities. There are deep rooted memories of jealousy and betrayal from past acts and one of them is forced to consider the possibility that her own precious memory of events may not be accurate.
I don’t know that any of the three were particularly likeable; Diana was often sharp and acerbic, Antonia could be spiteful as well a dreadful meddler and despite her age flirted like a silly young girl around the new young vicar. Naomi whilst lonely, was often blunt to the point of rudeness, even when people were trying to be friendly. Nevertheless, their characters were compelling and authentic and I really cared what happened to these women with their complex histories and personalities.
Old Bones has a gentle pace and is a poignant and thoughtful story with a mystery in the background; where characters hide behind regrets, distorted memories and secrets. It’s written with a light touch and it’s very easy to become engrossed. The only thing that I would take issue with is the inclusion of the word ‘elderly’ in the book’s description. As someone in their late fifties, the characters are not that much ahead of me in terms of age and I certainly don’t consider anyone in their early 60s to be elderly.
A recommended read.
Spinster sisters Diana and Antonia Littlehales live together, Diana at 63 being slightly older has a difficult relationship with Antonia who she often seems to resent having to live with. Diana looked after their mother for many years until her death and had looked forward to spending the rest of her life as she pleased, but instead Antonia landed on her doorstep, having left her teaching job under a cloud and now they are stuck with each other. However despite their petty bickering, it seems they cannot either live with or without each other.
...“Over the years I’ve done my best to make allowances for my sister. If she had only apologised about the doll and many other similar but more significant incidents I might have forgiven her. Most of the time I keep the lid on my still-simmering rage, but I can only continue to do that by treating Antonia as a halfwit, someone to be pitied”.
Librarian Naomi Wilkinson is of a similar age and lives with the memories of her two failed marriages; the humiliation of the first and the anger of the second still haunts her. She is rather a prickly character, not easy to befriend and keeps to herself however the discovery of the remains brings memories to the surface which she would rather stay buried.
Told by Diana in the first person and by Antonia and Naomi in the third, all three women reflect on what their lives could have been and missed opportunities. There are deep rooted memories of jealousy and betrayal from past acts and one of them is forced to consider the possibility that her own precious memory of events may not be accurate.
I don’t know that any of the three were particularly likeable; Diana was often sharp and acerbic, Antonia could be spiteful as well a dreadful meddler and despite her age flirted like a silly young girl around the new young vicar. Naomi whilst lonely, was often blunt to the point of rudeness, even when people were trying to be friendly. Nevertheless, their characters were compelling and authentic and I really cared what happened to these women with their complex histories and personalities.
Old Bones has a gentle pace and is a poignant and thoughtful story with a mystery in the background; where characters hide behind regrets, distorted memories and secrets. It’s written with a light touch and it’s very easy to become engrossed. The only thing that I would take issue with is the inclusion of the word ‘elderly’ in the book’s description. As someone in their late fifties, the characters are not that much ahead of me in terms of age and I certainly don’t consider anyone in their early 60s to be elderly.
A recommended read.
April 6, 2021
A couple of years ago I read The Last Words of Madeleine Anderson by Helen Kitson and was almost instantly hooked by the murky mindset of its rather unlikeable main character. So, when Louise Walters Books announced the author’s latest novel, Old Bones, I raced to pre-order.
Old Bones is tenuously linked to Maddie by location, both novels taking place in the village of Morevale, and I rather enjoyed picking up on the little Easter eggs scattered throughout pertaining to the first novel; nothing given away, and both can be read entirely as stand alone novels.
This tells the story of three women; sisters Diana and Antonia, and the local librarian, Naomi. The narrative is focused from each woman’s point of view following the revelation of a body being discovered in the local quarry. The event serves as a catalyst for reflection as each woman comes to terms with the past in various ways, and it is the arrival of Gill, a woman who features in each of their past, who causes secrets to be spilled and long held words to be aired.
First off – none of the characters are particularly likeable, a trait I enjoy with my characters – gives them a little more bite in terms of complexity, and the author does a beautiful job at exploring each character. Each woman is portrayed as someone you would assume to be (to put it harshly) ‘old and dull’ if you were just passing them in the street, but I love that the assumption is proven to be entirely incorrect with each woman unraveling her darkest secrets as proof that age is far more than a number, but a product of the experiences we wear about ourselves.
If you’re looking for thrills and twists delivered at a rapid pace – then this probably isn’t for you. What Helen Kitson does deliver however, is intriguing, well-rounded characters brought to life with an engaging and intelligent writing style. Whilst Old Bones didn’t quite match my love for Maddie, it is still an incredibly enjoyable read and I really hope that this won’t be the last we hear from the residents of Morevale.
Old Bones is tenuously linked to Maddie by location, both novels taking place in the village of Morevale, and I rather enjoyed picking up on the little Easter eggs scattered throughout pertaining to the first novel; nothing given away, and both can be read entirely as stand alone novels.
This tells the story of three women; sisters Diana and Antonia, and the local librarian, Naomi. The narrative is focused from each woman’s point of view following the revelation of a body being discovered in the local quarry. The event serves as a catalyst for reflection as each woman comes to terms with the past in various ways, and it is the arrival of Gill, a woman who features in each of their past, who causes secrets to be spilled and long held words to be aired.
First off – none of the characters are particularly likeable, a trait I enjoy with my characters – gives them a little more bite in terms of complexity, and the author does a beautiful job at exploring each character. Each woman is portrayed as someone you would assume to be (to put it harshly) ‘old and dull’ if you were just passing them in the street, but I love that the assumption is proven to be entirely incorrect with each woman unraveling her darkest secrets as proof that age is far more than a number, but a product of the experiences we wear about ourselves.
If you’re looking for thrills and twists delivered at a rapid pace – then this probably isn’t for you. What Helen Kitson does deliver however, is intriguing, well-rounded characters brought to life with an engaging and intelligent writing style. Whilst Old Bones didn’t quite match my love for Maddie, it is still an incredibly enjoyable read and I really hope that this won’t be the last we hear from the residents of Morevale.
January 25, 2021
Old Bones is set in the fictional Shropshire Village of Morevale, first introduced to us in Helen’s first novel The Last Words of Madeleine Anderson. It is the home to three women. Sisters and spinsters Diana and Antonia share a house and a life but seems to co-exist in a uncomfortable atmosphere of bitterness and regret. Diana owns a small, successful business, but is on the edge of it, rarely entering the shop. Antonia has fallen from grace, dismissed from her teaching job under a cloud.
Naomi lives alone, tormented by the failure of two marriages, working at the local library, lonely and unfulfilled.
Their lives have moved on almost without their consent and their hopes, passions and dreams are firmly trapped in the past, tied up with lost love and ambition. All three women are keeping secrets and all three women are haunted by what they feel is their own reality, but as the novel progresses we begin to question the accuracy of their memories. Have the women forgotten their own truths?
The lives of the women and the village are unsettled by a series of events. The discovery of a body in the local quarry, coupled with the reappearance of an old flame, threaten the exterior peace of the women’s lives and force them to confront old ghosts.
Helen Kitson has created a story that hangs on it’s characters. These are characters that are authentic, believable and crucially, brilliantly drawn. Here is a portrayal of three flawed women, all with regrets, all trapped in the past and clinging in their own ways to lost loves and opportunities. Each woman is struggling to live in the present, all unable to grasp their present opportunities.
These characters draw the reader in and keep us in an air of gentle suspense and recurring compassion. The discovery of the bones is clear catalyst for change, but also for reflection.
This story is carefully plotted; it’s characters provide both light and shade, raising questions about the path life takes us on and the opportunities we allow ourselves to take.
Naomi lives alone, tormented by the failure of two marriages, working at the local library, lonely and unfulfilled.
Their lives have moved on almost without their consent and their hopes, passions and dreams are firmly trapped in the past, tied up with lost love and ambition. All three women are keeping secrets and all three women are haunted by what they feel is their own reality, but as the novel progresses we begin to question the accuracy of their memories. Have the women forgotten their own truths?
The lives of the women and the village are unsettled by a series of events. The discovery of a body in the local quarry, coupled with the reappearance of an old flame, threaten the exterior peace of the women’s lives and force them to confront old ghosts.
Helen Kitson has created a story that hangs on it’s characters. These are characters that are authentic, believable and crucially, brilliantly drawn. Here is a portrayal of three flawed women, all with regrets, all trapped in the past and clinging in their own ways to lost loves and opportunities. Each woman is struggling to live in the present, all unable to grasp their present opportunities.
These characters draw the reader in and keep us in an air of gentle suspense and recurring compassion. The discovery of the bones is clear catalyst for change, but also for reflection.
This story is carefully plotted; it’s characters provide both light and shade, raising questions about the path life takes us on and the opportunities we allow ourselves to take.
March 4, 2021
What is it about the 'quiet' characters that just make them so fascinating and appealing to read about?! We have 3 female characters in this book who grab your attention in the way they look at the world, the way they interact with each other and those around them, and prove the adage that you should never judge a book by its' cover - on the outside these women are seemingly living a very peaceful, monotonous life, but scratch the surface and there's so much to be found out!
A body discovered in the local quarry brings them all together. Diana and Antonia are spinster sisters - they have their own beefs with the world, and both seem never to have recovered from their first loves. Naomi lives alone and works in the local library, so she gets to know people through contact there.
They all seem to live with the mantra of 'suffer in silence'! They live in their heads too much, playing back past regrets, and you'll have moments when you want to shake them into action! But there's something settled about the way they deal with life. But sometimes ignoring the problem doesn't make it go away.
I was enthralled with the story as it played out. The mystery of the identity man in the quarry, the secrets from the past that begin to reveal themselves, and the impact it has on the relationships of these women. One of those books that quietly lures you in and doesn't let go of you easily!
A body discovered in the local quarry brings them all together. Diana and Antonia are spinster sisters - they have their own beefs with the world, and both seem never to have recovered from their first loves. Naomi lives alone and works in the local library, so she gets to know people through contact there.
They all seem to live with the mantra of 'suffer in silence'! They live in their heads too much, playing back past regrets, and you'll have moments when you want to shake them into action! But there's something settled about the way they deal with life. But sometimes ignoring the problem doesn't make it go away.
I was enthralled with the story as it played out. The mystery of the identity man in the quarry, the secrets from the past that begin to reveal themselves, and the impact it has on the relationships of these women. One of those books that quietly lures you in and doesn't let go of you easily!
March 26, 2021
Old Bones is a bit of a change of pace from books I've been reading lately and it's nice to sit back and relax with a good book rather than being perched on the edge of your seat. I think I'd call this book alluring rather than addictive; it certainly drew me in and caught me in its spell as I untangled the stories of the three main characters.
The title of Old Bones could actually have a double meaning; not only the bones found in the local quarry but the weary sixty year old bones of Diana, Antonia and Naomi. Although the characters are in their sixties, it certainly doesn't feel like they are that age and I think that has something to do with how you seem to regress to your childhood when you return home. Spinster siblings Diana and Antonia are living together in the family home and Naomi is someone they have known since childhood, which means that there are old scores to be settled in a kind of schoolyard 'I'm not your friend anymore'.
With such wonderfully complex and completely flawed characters there is a lot to discover about these women, especially some secrets that they would prefer to keep hidden. Unreliability of memory is explored as memories from childhood are revealed and I always find this a very interesting subject. Our brains can bury memories that are painful to us and it can also fill in any blanks with the best fit scenario so any distant memory has to have some element of unreliability about it.
I actually felt quite sorry for Diana, Antonia and Naomi as life has not turned out quite the way they expected. Diana is haunted by a lost love (and don't get me started on Gill whose selfishness infuriated me), Antonia is scarred by a devastating event in her past and Naomi is tortured by a deeply buried secret. So much mystery and intrigue, and that's without the discovery of the bones!
Old Bones is a wonderfully alluring character driven story filled with mystery, intrigue and buried secrets. I really enjoyed it and will definitely be looking out for more Helen Kitson books.
I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
The title of Old Bones could actually have a double meaning; not only the bones found in the local quarry but the weary sixty year old bones of Diana, Antonia and Naomi. Although the characters are in their sixties, it certainly doesn't feel like they are that age and I think that has something to do with how you seem to regress to your childhood when you return home. Spinster siblings Diana and Antonia are living together in the family home and Naomi is someone they have known since childhood, which means that there are old scores to be settled in a kind of schoolyard 'I'm not your friend anymore'.
With such wonderfully complex and completely flawed characters there is a lot to discover about these women, especially some secrets that they would prefer to keep hidden. Unreliability of memory is explored as memories from childhood are revealed and I always find this a very interesting subject. Our brains can bury memories that are painful to us and it can also fill in any blanks with the best fit scenario so any distant memory has to have some element of unreliability about it.
I actually felt quite sorry for Diana, Antonia and Naomi as life has not turned out quite the way they expected. Diana is haunted by a lost love (and don't get me started on Gill whose selfishness infuriated me), Antonia is scarred by a devastating event in her past and Naomi is tortured by a deeply buried secret. So much mystery and intrigue, and that's without the discovery of the bones!
Old Bones is a wonderfully alluring character driven story filled with mystery, intrigue and buried secrets. I really enjoyed it and will definitely be looking out for more Helen Kitson books.
I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
March 11, 2021
Our experiences as adults are very likely shaped by events in our childhoods and early adulthood. Memories are heavily influenced and based on feelings we had surrounding the events and experiences. The problem with memories is that their clarity and true details fade and become muddled as time passes and what we remember now is possibly not a true account of the events at the time.
This is the enchanting story about the struggles of three elderly women to move on from their first loves and the mistakes of their pasts. To do this they also needed to learn to give and accept forgiveness and the need for change. But each woman was stubborn,opinionated and set in her ways,will they each be able to accept that sometimes change is the only way that we can let go of the past and move forward into a brighter, happier future?
The chapters of this character driven story alternated between the perspectives of sister's Diana and Antonia and librarian Naomi who lived in the fictional Shropshire village of Morevale. The village had a olde worlde vibe to it, like it was trapped in a time warp, the sort of place were everyone attended church on a Sunday and were the residents were quick to gossip and pass judgement on others. The place was reminiscent of the setting for a Agatha Christie book or film with its friendly vicar, village fate, mysterious bones uncovered in the nearby quarry and hidden secrets and lies.
Despite there being understandable reasons behind each woman's demeanour and behaviour,I can't say that I thought any of them was very likeable for multiple reasons especially Antonia. But, this didn't stop me from experiencing some feelings of sympathy for each of them at certain points in the story and I will be honest and admit that my opinions on Diana and Naomi had changed a bit by the time I got to the end of the book.
This is a beautifully written,captivating read, the multiple layers of the story unfolding like the petals of a blossoming flower, gradually unfurling until they revealed the beauty that was hidden within. When you think about it,the title of this book is a very clever metaphor when you take into consideration the old bones that were found in the quarry and the old bones of the three main characters. A very enjoyable read and very highly recommended.
This is the enchanting story about the struggles of three elderly women to move on from their first loves and the mistakes of their pasts. To do this they also needed to learn to give and accept forgiveness and the need for change. But each woman was stubborn,opinionated and set in her ways,will they each be able to accept that sometimes change is the only way that we can let go of the past and move forward into a brighter, happier future?
The chapters of this character driven story alternated between the perspectives of sister's Diana and Antonia and librarian Naomi who lived in the fictional Shropshire village of Morevale. The village had a olde worlde vibe to it, like it was trapped in a time warp, the sort of place were everyone attended church on a Sunday and were the residents were quick to gossip and pass judgement on others. The place was reminiscent of the setting for a Agatha Christie book or film with its friendly vicar, village fate, mysterious bones uncovered in the nearby quarry and hidden secrets and lies.
Despite there being understandable reasons behind each woman's demeanour and behaviour,I can't say that I thought any of them was very likeable for multiple reasons especially Antonia. But, this didn't stop me from experiencing some feelings of sympathy for each of them at certain points in the story and I will be honest and admit that my opinions on Diana and Naomi had changed a bit by the time I got to the end of the book.
This is a beautifully written,captivating read, the multiple layers of the story unfolding like the petals of a blossoming flower, gradually unfurling until they revealed the beauty that was hidden within. When you think about it,the title of this book is a very clever metaphor when you take into consideration the old bones that were found in the quarry and the old bones of the three main characters. A very enjoyable read and very highly recommended.
March 17, 2021
This is a good book for character development, but quite slow and the whole plot of the book fell a bit flat for me.
I did, however, LOVE the author’s first book, so would highly recommend that.
Gifted in exchange for an honest review.
I did, however, LOVE the author’s first book, so would highly recommend that.
Gifted in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2021
I loved this novel. Three older ladies who you might think of as ‘spinsters’ slowly reveal to us their surprising turbulent lives and the surprises of their passions and losses are convincing and compelling. All three of them crept into my heart and I couldn’t put it down. It was the biggest treat to sit down and read it and I feel bereft the read is now over. Read this novel it’s wonderful.
February 28, 2021
Diana Cambridge, another of Louise Walters Books’ excellent authors, described Helen Kitson’s first book as “Barbara Pym noir”: that description perfectly managed my expectations as I grew increasingly comfortable with this novel’s very different pace (and content, and style) from my usual reading. In many ways, it’s about small lives fraught with disappointment, distorted memories, gently told – but it also simmers quite deliciously with frustration, impatience, dissatisfaction and suppressed anger. The discovery of a body in a nearby quarry provides a catalyst to the story, but so does the reappearance of Diana’s old flame Gill – and the way small revelations and surprises are dripped into the story makes it a compelling and fascinating read, and one I really enjoyed.
The first person narrator is Diana – 63, and having spent many years caring for her mother, her involvement in the gift shop she owns no longer needed, she’d rather expected an easy and solitary later life, enjoying books and crosswords and lingering over the lost opportunities of her youth. Instead, she finds herself living uneasily with sister Antonia – spiky, unpredictable, a little eccentric – whose teaching career ended under something of a cloud and drove her return to the former family home. Their relationship is a difficult one, their exchanges unpredictably charged and volatile – the occasional venom can be quite uncomfortable to read, Antonia’s story told in the third person but still providing insights into her actions and secret life. Living together is very difficult indeed – but living apart is something neither of them feels is a real option.
Naomi – whose story is also told in the third person – is the local librarian. Twice married, her life is a lonely one – with fond memories of her first marriage, bitter regrets about her second – as she finds herself increasingly out of place at work among the younger volunteers, yet dreading the time when she must leave and need to fill the endless days. Her second husband disappeared, and she’s convinced it’s his body that’s been found in the quarry – and the reasons why her conviction is so strong are gradually revealed.
The appearance of Gill – the passion of Diana’s youth – shakes everything up. It brings back uncomfortable truths and memories that have (perhaps…) been distorted by time, igniting long buried emotions and shining a light on dimly remembered wrongs and actions, increasing the struggle of living in the present.
There were a lot of small things I really liked about this book. It has a timeless quality – although very much set in the present day, the past is where much of the drama happens, if all seen through a distorted lens. The presence of the vicar, although almost superfluous to the story, adds to the Pym-like flavour – and the shared universe her books often featured is also present, with the cleverly and lightly introduced mentions of small facts from the earlier book (something of a treat, but nothing to spoil your enjoyment should this be your first visit to Morevale). The book’s title is particularly clever – perhaps ostensibly the bones found in the quarry, but also the picking apart of the bones of the story itself, the uncovering of all those uncomfortable truths.
The threads of the past slowly untangle – with many surprises along the way – and I found myself entirely immersed and fascinated by the lives of characters so infrequently allowed to take centre stage in contemporary fiction. I will admit to an understandable aversion to describing the characters as “elderly” – they’re younger than I am, although they perhaps seemed rather older – and a shiver at every use of the word “spinster”, which I always find uncomfortably pejorative. But I can forgive that – the characterisation is exceptional, and the three women were never anything but entirely real and easy (perhaps easier than I sometimes liked…) to identify with, however little I liked them at times.
It’s quite a story, and unfolded in a way I really enjoyed – perfectly paced, demanding close attention to the detail lest you miss the many small hints and revelations, an intriguing and rewarding reading experience. Very different, highly original – and a book I’d really recommend to others.
The first person narrator is Diana – 63, and having spent many years caring for her mother, her involvement in the gift shop she owns no longer needed, she’d rather expected an easy and solitary later life, enjoying books and crosswords and lingering over the lost opportunities of her youth. Instead, she finds herself living uneasily with sister Antonia – spiky, unpredictable, a little eccentric – whose teaching career ended under something of a cloud and drove her return to the former family home. Their relationship is a difficult one, their exchanges unpredictably charged and volatile – the occasional venom can be quite uncomfortable to read, Antonia’s story told in the third person but still providing insights into her actions and secret life. Living together is very difficult indeed – but living apart is something neither of them feels is a real option.
Naomi – whose story is also told in the third person – is the local librarian. Twice married, her life is a lonely one – with fond memories of her first marriage, bitter regrets about her second – as she finds herself increasingly out of place at work among the younger volunteers, yet dreading the time when she must leave and need to fill the endless days. Her second husband disappeared, and she’s convinced it’s his body that’s been found in the quarry – and the reasons why her conviction is so strong are gradually revealed.
The appearance of Gill – the passion of Diana’s youth – shakes everything up. It brings back uncomfortable truths and memories that have (perhaps…) been distorted by time, igniting long buried emotions and shining a light on dimly remembered wrongs and actions, increasing the struggle of living in the present.
There were a lot of small things I really liked about this book. It has a timeless quality – although very much set in the present day, the past is where much of the drama happens, if all seen through a distorted lens. The presence of the vicar, although almost superfluous to the story, adds to the Pym-like flavour – and the shared universe her books often featured is also present, with the cleverly and lightly introduced mentions of small facts from the earlier book (something of a treat, but nothing to spoil your enjoyment should this be your first visit to Morevale). The book’s title is particularly clever – perhaps ostensibly the bones found in the quarry, but also the picking apart of the bones of the story itself, the uncovering of all those uncomfortable truths.
The threads of the past slowly untangle – with many surprises along the way – and I found myself entirely immersed and fascinated by the lives of characters so infrequently allowed to take centre stage in contemporary fiction. I will admit to an understandable aversion to describing the characters as “elderly” – they’re younger than I am, although they perhaps seemed rather older – and a shiver at every use of the word “spinster”, which I always find uncomfortably pejorative. But I can forgive that – the characterisation is exceptional, and the three women were never anything but entirely real and easy (perhaps easier than I sometimes liked…) to identify with, however little I liked them at times.
It’s quite a story, and unfolded in a way I really enjoyed – perfectly paced, demanding close attention to the detail lest you miss the many small hints and revelations, an intriguing and rewarding reading experience. Very different, highly original – and a book I’d really recommend to others.
February 24, 2021
Welcome to the Shropshire village of Morevale, a quiet, but growing little village, where nothing exciting seems to happen. Until, that is, a body is found in the local quarry. Gossip is rife about the possible identity of these remains, and the resulting hullabaloo causes ripples in the outwardly calm lives of three of the village's residents - staid librarian, Naomi, and the spinster sisters Diana and Antonia. What could this body possibly have to do with three such stalwarts of village life? Well, it seems that even the most respectable looking women can hide deep, dark secrets that they would prefer remain hidden...
The discovery of the human remains, and the unexpected arrival of Diana's old flame, Gillian, set in motion a series of events that bring matters to a head for all three of our women. It is soon clear that they have been living in the past for most of their lives, unable to break free of the legacy of the unfulfilled relationships with their first loves. The time has come for them to rake over the old bones of their own past deeds and misdeeds, and finally find a way to move on.
This is a reflective kind of book, told in three separate accounts from each of our main characters, and it has an interesting narrative structure. Diana's side of the story is told with the immediacy and intensity of a first person account, which puts her right at the centre of the book, while Naomi and Antonia's accounts are both in the third person. I found this quite intriguing, since Naomi seems the obvious choice as the central character, given her storyline. However, it is actually Diana that links the threads together, and her developing friendship with Naomi plays nicely against her irritation with Antonia. It is Diana's head we need to be in for this tale to work, as it is through her that we see the truth, and we are right there beside her as it gradually dawns on her that the past might not have happened quite as she remembers it.
Coming to this book from a couple of fast-paced thrillers did make it difficult for me to get into the rhythm of this novel at first, but by the time I had got to about a quarter of the way in, I was so enmeshed with the relationships between the women and their past history that I was completely hooked. Even so, I could have easily dispensed with the new vicar who I found rather distracting and at odds with the compelling triad of the three women, there were some threads that I felt did not really reach a resolution, and I am not sure that I would describe these women as 'elderly'. Perhaps there was a little too much left unsaid for me too, which I found a tad frustrating, but I leave you to make up your own minds on that one.
There is a lot to recommend about this book, but my favourite thing is the wonderful timeless atmosphere of the story. I felt that these women could easily have lived at any era in the last hundred years and, with just a few minor tweaks, the tale would still have worked just as well. Their focus on the past, and the way their experiences have aged them, are themes that repeat throughout history, and Helen Kitson writes them so well here that their relationships would ring true against any time period.
This is another enchanting and many layered read from the LWB stable, and I can highly recommend it to those who like their books on the quiet side, but with lots of deep emotion under the surface.
The discovery of the human remains, and the unexpected arrival of Diana's old flame, Gillian, set in motion a series of events that bring matters to a head for all three of our women. It is soon clear that they have been living in the past for most of their lives, unable to break free of the legacy of the unfulfilled relationships with their first loves. The time has come for them to rake over the old bones of their own past deeds and misdeeds, and finally find a way to move on.
This is a reflective kind of book, told in three separate accounts from each of our main characters, and it has an interesting narrative structure. Diana's side of the story is told with the immediacy and intensity of a first person account, which puts her right at the centre of the book, while Naomi and Antonia's accounts are both in the third person. I found this quite intriguing, since Naomi seems the obvious choice as the central character, given her storyline. However, it is actually Diana that links the threads together, and her developing friendship with Naomi plays nicely against her irritation with Antonia. It is Diana's head we need to be in for this tale to work, as it is through her that we see the truth, and we are right there beside her as it gradually dawns on her that the past might not have happened quite as she remembers it.
Coming to this book from a couple of fast-paced thrillers did make it difficult for me to get into the rhythm of this novel at first, but by the time I had got to about a quarter of the way in, I was so enmeshed with the relationships between the women and their past history that I was completely hooked. Even so, I could have easily dispensed with the new vicar who I found rather distracting and at odds with the compelling triad of the three women, there were some threads that I felt did not really reach a resolution, and I am not sure that I would describe these women as 'elderly'. Perhaps there was a little too much left unsaid for me too, which I found a tad frustrating, but I leave you to make up your own minds on that one.
There is a lot to recommend about this book, but my favourite thing is the wonderful timeless atmosphere of the story. I felt that these women could easily have lived at any era in the last hundred years and, with just a few minor tweaks, the tale would still have worked just as well. Their focus on the past, and the way their experiences have aged them, are themes that repeat throughout history, and Helen Kitson writes them so well here that their relationships would ring true against any time period.
This is another enchanting and many layered read from the LWB stable, and I can highly recommend it to those who like their books on the quiet side, but with lots of deep emotion under the surface.
February 27, 2021
This book is quirky, original, and, most importantly, focuses entirely on three women ‘of a certain age’ – a group which is often neglected in fiction. The relationship between the ‘spinster sisters’ Diana and Antonia is painfully fraught and antagonistic, riven with the hurts and rivalries of many years, and yet they are curiously dependent on one another. It isn’t always pleasant to listen to them bicker and needle each other, but it rings true, and as their pasts come to light, it is clear where these old wounds come from. There are brilliantly depicted moments of arrested development, where their childish sniping and petty revenge schemes tip over into humour (particularly in the case of Antonia, who is a constant source of exasperation for her sister). The third protagonist, Naomi, is a sadder, lonelier figure, and I found Kitson’s exploration of her character interesting and insightful.
The story itself is full of twists and turns, and, like The Last Words of Madeleine Anderson, it is always surprising in terms of how and when Kitson chooses to make revelations. We often find things out, or at least infer them, long before some of the characters, and this makes for an intriguing reading experience. I found myself waiting for confirmation rather than new information a lot of the time, which fits with the hazy rumours and second-guessing that flies around the village. It is hard to explain how Kitson manages to keep up the element of surprise in this book – it isn’t through startling disclosures (important plot points are dropped in almost casually at times) but rather through picking over the ramifications of these disclosures, surprising us with the characters’ reactions, rather than the dramatic events themselves. It is very clever, and very original.
The themes of disappointment and missed opportunities hang heavy in this book, but there are glimmers of hope. At its heart, Old Bones seems to me to be a book which explores the fact that everyone has their own peculiar trajectory, that the mundane and the dramatic weave together to form personal histories which echo into our present reality. As we follow these women through their everyday lives, we see how the past haunts each of them, a tangible presence that they cannot escape from. But we also see how they endure, survive, get on with things, make their own way as best they can. Old Bones is a quietly intriguing book, shining a light on characters all too often written off or forgotten, and it provides an enjoyably different reading experience.
The story itself is full of twists and turns, and, like The Last Words of Madeleine Anderson, it is always surprising in terms of how and when Kitson chooses to make revelations. We often find things out, or at least infer them, long before some of the characters, and this makes for an intriguing reading experience. I found myself waiting for confirmation rather than new information a lot of the time, which fits with the hazy rumours and second-guessing that flies around the village. It is hard to explain how Kitson manages to keep up the element of surprise in this book – it isn’t through startling disclosures (important plot points are dropped in almost casually at times) but rather through picking over the ramifications of these disclosures, surprising us with the characters’ reactions, rather than the dramatic events themselves. It is very clever, and very original.
The themes of disappointment and missed opportunities hang heavy in this book, but there are glimmers of hope. At its heart, Old Bones seems to me to be a book which explores the fact that everyone has their own peculiar trajectory, that the mundane and the dramatic weave together to form personal histories which echo into our present reality. As we follow these women through their everyday lives, we see how the past haunts each of them, a tangible presence that they cannot escape from. But we also see how they endure, survive, get on with things, make their own way as best they can. Old Bones is a quietly intriguing book, shining a light on characters all too often written off or forgotten, and it provides an enjoyably different reading experience.
March 6, 2021
This is one of those books that I enjoyed so much and know that I will not be able to articulate why. Two spinster sisters Diana and Antonia. Diana is the eldest and owns her own shop. Antonia is younger by many years.
Naomi is the head librarian she lives on her own after her husband Brian left her in 1999. Well, she thinks he did, he hasn’t been seen since. Then bones are found in a local quarry and the town goes into gossip overdrive.
All three women lead a quiet almost mundane life, when the new vicar Mr Fielding arrives Antonia is quite taken with him and she habours regrets and really doesn’t like Naomi so when a chance arises to get her in to trouble she takes it.
Diana has her own secrets she had a relationship with a women called Gill and when Gill comes to visit out of the blue, Antonia is really jealous and nervous that her safe life will change.
This is a really beautifully written and gentle story about lives and people. It is funny, tender and real. I laughed out loud at Diana’s first visit to the library in the book, her and Naomi are hilarious. It is also sad it’s about mis-opportunities, regrets and guilt and living a life that someone else mapped out for you.
When the body found in the quarry is thought to be Brian there even more shocks in store for Naomi. She didn’t report him missing and the police and this adds to their suspicions that she was involved in his disappearance.
Antonia and Diana have a very complicated relationship they are both frustrated that the other has held them back in life. Antonia doesn’t like Gill in fact she doesn’t seem to like anyone who wants to be friends with Diana. She acts like a child still even though she is a grown woman. Diana is the older sister who has burdened the responsibility of a younger sibling and I could understand her frustration that she has been held back by Antonia.
I read lots of crime and thrillers and I really loved the pace of this book. It was a real change for me it felt like a gentle stroll rather than a run which was such a welcome change. If you like a character led novel you will really enjoy getting to know these three. A unique book and I really enjoyed the twists and turns that I really didn’t expect. A really wonderful read.
5 stars *****
Thank you to Emma at Damp Pebbles for the invitation to the tour and to Louise Walters for the e copy of the book.
Naomi is the head librarian she lives on her own after her husband Brian left her in 1999. Well, she thinks he did, he hasn’t been seen since. Then bones are found in a local quarry and the town goes into gossip overdrive.
All three women lead a quiet almost mundane life, when the new vicar Mr Fielding arrives Antonia is quite taken with him and she habours regrets and really doesn’t like Naomi so when a chance arises to get her in to trouble she takes it.
Diana has her own secrets she had a relationship with a women called Gill and when Gill comes to visit out of the blue, Antonia is really jealous and nervous that her safe life will change.
This is a really beautifully written and gentle story about lives and people. It is funny, tender and real. I laughed out loud at Diana’s first visit to the library in the book, her and Naomi are hilarious. It is also sad it’s about mis-opportunities, regrets and guilt and living a life that someone else mapped out for you.
When the body found in the quarry is thought to be Brian there even more shocks in store for Naomi. She didn’t report him missing and the police and this adds to their suspicions that she was involved in his disappearance.
Antonia and Diana have a very complicated relationship they are both frustrated that the other has held them back in life. Antonia doesn’t like Gill in fact she doesn’t seem to like anyone who wants to be friends with Diana. She acts like a child still even though she is a grown woman. Diana is the older sister who has burdened the responsibility of a younger sibling and I could understand her frustration that she has been held back by Antonia.
I read lots of crime and thrillers and I really loved the pace of this book. It was a real change for me it felt like a gentle stroll rather than a run which was such a welcome change. If you like a character led novel you will really enjoy getting to know these three. A unique book and I really enjoyed the twists and turns that I really didn’t expect. A really wonderful read.
5 stars *****
Thank you to Emma at Damp Pebbles for the invitation to the tour and to Louise Walters for the e copy of the book.
May 1, 2023
“‘No new developments,’ Antonia says. ‘They can find out all sorts, these days, from a few old bones.’
I grunt, neatly beheading my boiled egg with a knife. The bones in question were discovered in a quarry near the woods just down the road from is. We all, I think, expected the let-down of being informed that the bones were those of a sheep or a cow. But no, it seems they are definitely human remains, although only a partial skeleton was recovered.
‘To be expected,’ Antonia commented. ‘I daresay animals made off with some of them.’ A fan of detective shows, she knows about these things.”
This novel is set in the fictional Shropshire village of Morevale and is about the lives of three women in their sixties and how their pasts and, their inability to move on from past events have shaped the women they have become and how they live their lives.
Diana
The semi-retired owner of the local gift shop. She has never got over her first love, a girl named Gill, whose family left the village years ago.
Antonia
Younger sister to Diana. She has come to live with Diana, following an incident at the private girls’ school where she taught Home Economics.
Naomi
The lonely, friendless, Head Librarian of the local library. She has been married twice and now lives alone, dedicating her free time to the local church and parish magazine.
When a body is discovered in the local quarry and Diana’s old flame, Gill, returns to the village, the three women have to confront and re-examine these experiences from their pasts.
This novel is a gripping read, written in an engrossing, extremely readable way. It reads as something of a modern day Barbara Pym but with darker undertones.
I thought it was wonderful.
I grunt, neatly beheading my boiled egg with a knife. The bones in question were discovered in a quarry near the woods just down the road from is. We all, I think, expected the let-down of being informed that the bones were those of a sheep or a cow. But no, it seems they are definitely human remains, although only a partial skeleton was recovered.
‘To be expected,’ Antonia commented. ‘I daresay animals made off with some of them.’ A fan of detective shows, she knows about these things.”
This novel is set in the fictional Shropshire village of Morevale and is about the lives of three women in their sixties and how their pasts and, their inability to move on from past events have shaped the women they have become and how they live their lives.
Diana
The semi-retired owner of the local gift shop. She has never got over her first love, a girl named Gill, whose family left the village years ago.
Antonia
Younger sister to Diana. She has come to live with Diana, following an incident at the private girls’ school where she taught Home Economics.
Naomi
The lonely, friendless, Head Librarian of the local library. She has been married twice and now lives alone, dedicating her free time to the local church and parish magazine.
When a body is discovered in the local quarry and Diana’s old flame, Gill, returns to the village, the three women have to confront and re-examine these experiences from their pasts.
This novel is a gripping read, written in an engrossing, extremely readable way. It reads as something of a modern day Barbara Pym but with darker undertones.
I thought it was wonderful.
March 9, 2021
First of all let’s get one thing straight. Sixty is not elderly. Sixty is the new forty. Once in your sixties you can wear what you like, dye your hair pink, go to yoga in leg warmers and be comfortably eccentric. And stop caring what people think of you. Unfortunately none of these ladies got the memo.
They need to loosen up a bit and stop dwelling in the past. Their lives are limited by the experiences they had when they were young.
Diana lives in her mother’s house and also owns a gift shop but she doesn’t work there anymore. Her manager runs it. Diana is not needed. She also rents out the flat above so we can see she is not short of a bob or two. But she never goes anywhere. Her life is stuck in a time warp when she was 21 and fell in love with 18 year old Gillian. That was over 40 years ago. They send the odd postcard but have never spoken since. Until now.
Diana’s younger sister Antonia is a bit strange. She was in love with Phillip when they were teenagers but he went away and she never got over it. She really wanted to be married and have children but instead she went into teaching home economics and was so badly bullied by the students that she left under some sort of cloud. She has never recovered from the experience or from being deserted by Phillip. Antonia and Diana live together but only barely tolerate one another’s company.
Naomi is more interesting. She went to university, is well-educated and married a wonderful, cultured man called Nigel. Unfortunately he left her for Melanie but she still holds a candle. Inexplicably she got married again to the dreadful Brian, the total opposite of Nigel. I’d love to say he was a rough diamond, but in reality he was just rough. No proper job, always in the pub and apparently having affairs left, right and centre. One wonders why she married him. Even more so, why he married her. She’s not exactly one of his glam floosies. She thinks maybe he just wanted her money.
But Brian disappeared 20 years ago and then a body turns up. Why can’t the past just stay buried thinks Naomi.
This is a tale of secrets and people who don’t really know each other. A story of three sixty plus women whose lives have been boxed in by their own fears, prejudices and I hate to say narrow-mindedness. They automatically dislike each other but never really try to give the other some credit. They are all lonely but push each other away. Like three residents in a retirement home who never leave their rooms even though there is a communal lounge and dining room.
This is a brilliant book. As a sixty something myself (lucky to be married with two sons, three granddaughters and a dog) I believe you have to make your own choices in life if you can and leave the past in the past. Many people are not so lucky and are desperately lonely, but these three have decided to turn their noses up at the opportunity to form any kind of bond or friendship. I loved it.
Many thanks to @damppebbles for inviting me to be part of #damppebblesblogtours
They need to loosen up a bit and stop dwelling in the past. Their lives are limited by the experiences they had when they were young.
Diana lives in her mother’s house and also owns a gift shop but she doesn’t work there anymore. Her manager runs it. Diana is not needed. She also rents out the flat above so we can see she is not short of a bob or two. But she never goes anywhere. Her life is stuck in a time warp when she was 21 and fell in love with 18 year old Gillian. That was over 40 years ago. They send the odd postcard but have never spoken since. Until now.
Diana’s younger sister Antonia is a bit strange. She was in love with Phillip when they were teenagers but he went away and she never got over it. She really wanted to be married and have children but instead she went into teaching home economics and was so badly bullied by the students that she left under some sort of cloud. She has never recovered from the experience or from being deserted by Phillip. Antonia and Diana live together but only barely tolerate one another’s company.
Naomi is more interesting. She went to university, is well-educated and married a wonderful, cultured man called Nigel. Unfortunately he left her for Melanie but she still holds a candle. Inexplicably she got married again to the dreadful Brian, the total opposite of Nigel. I’d love to say he was a rough diamond, but in reality he was just rough. No proper job, always in the pub and apparently having affairs left, right and centre. One wonders why she married him. Even more so, why he married her. She’s not exactly one of his glam floosies. She thinks maybe he just wanted her money.
But Brian disappeared 20 years ago and then a body turns up. Why can’t the past just stay buried thinks Naomi.
This is a tale of secrets and people who don’t really know each other. A story of three sixty plus women whose lives have been boxed in by their own fears, prejudices and I hate to say narrow-mindedness. They automatically dislike each other but never really try to give the other some credit. They are all lonely but push each other away. Like three residents in a retirement home who never leave their rooms even though there is a communal lounge and dining room.
This is a brilliant book. As a sixty something myself (lucky to be married with two sons, three granddaughters and a dog) I believe you have to make your own choices in life if you can and leave the past in the past. Many people are not so lucky and are desperately lonely, but these three have decided to turn their noses up at the opportunity to form any kind of bond or friendship. I loved it.
Many thanks to @damppebbles for inviting me to be part of #damppebblesblogtours
March 8, 2021
I read Old Bones by Helen Kitson as part of a Blog Tour, organised by Damppebbles. I received a free copy of the ebook.
A fantastic Sunday read, this is one of those wonderful books where nothing really happens but you’re totally captivated.
Narrated mainly by Diana, with Antonia’s and Naomi’s parts in the third person, Old Bones is full of internal torment, misunderstandings, resentment, and regrets.
Being sisters, and not very close ones, Diana and Antonia have a turbulent relationship, and both are stuck dreaming of their teenage love affairs, but for very different reasons. Both have misguided beliefs about the other, both are desperate to escape the arguments but scared of being alone.
Naomi’s life is equally barren, and she’s got big secrets too. And her quiet life as the village librarian is no longer enough.
I love books like this. As I said, nothing really happens, but it gives a wonderful insight into the thinking of the generation before mine. All manners and graciousness on display, turmoil and insecurities behind closed doors.
(BTW, I object to the ladies being called ‘elderly’ – 60 is not elderly, Ms Kitson! It’s not even retirement age!)
This book won’t change the world. But it will fill a rainy afternoon, provide some insight into your mum or gran, and also give you loads of things to think about.
Every family has secrets, after all.
A fantastic Sunday read, this is one of those wonderful books where nothing really happens but you’re totally captivated.
Narrated mainly by Diana, with Antonia’s and Naomi’s parts in the third person, Old Bones is full of internal torment, misunderstandings, resentment, and regrets.
Being sisters, and not very close ones, Diana and Antonia have a turbulent relationship, and both are stuck dreaming of their teenage love affairs, but for very different reasons. Both have misguided beliefs about the other, both are desperate to escape the arguments but scared of being alone.
Naomi’s life is equally barren, and she’s got big secrets too. And her quiet life as the village librarian is no longer enough.
I love books like this. As I said, nothing really happens, but it gives a wonderful insight into the thinking of the generation before mine. All manners and graciousness on display, turmoil and insecurities behind closed doors.
(BTW, I object to the ladies being called ‘elderly’ – 60 is not elderly, Ms Kitson! It’s not even retirement age!)
This book won’t change the world. But it will fill a rainy afternoon, provide some insight into your mum or gran, and also give you loads of things to think about.
Every family has secrets, after all.
January 26, 2022
Every so often we come across a book of quiet characters who make a lot of noise with their thoughts. This is one such book. Beautifully crafted by Helen Kitson, we meet Diana, Antonia and Naomi, three women in their sixties who are trying to make their way through a maze of regrets, reminiscing, and the daily drudge of their current lives. A quirky story-line infused with the complication of the discovery of old bones in a local quarry, this story is essentially about how we deal with our pasts and how difficult it is to let go of old grievances, old loves, old everything. I loved the very nature of this story, how it unfolded for all three women and how a tidy ending isn't always the solution. Brava! Helen Kitson.
March 1, 2021
The synopsis of the book intrigued me, what did the three women know about the body found in the local quarry? Had one or more of them been involved?
The story introduces us to the siblings, Diana and Antonia, who live together in their childhood home whilst loathing each other and Naomi, who knew them at school. All of them are living in the village they grew up in and are trapped by their past. I must admit that I didn’t like any of the three by the end of the story but I did find myself feeling sorry for them, as they had all become trapped by their reactions to past events.
The story is well written and we slowly start to find out what has happened in the past to each of the three main characters. All three have to face up to their past as the police start their investigation and old memories resurface. Although the story is sad in places, the day out in Birmingham for Antonia did make me laugh out loud, especially her visit to a fast food venue.
The message I took from the book was not to allow yourself to be stuck in an unhappy past, but to start looking forward, something we probably all need to do. See below for the purchase links so that you can also find out who the ‘old bones’ belonged to.
The story introduces us to the siblings, Diana and Antonia, who live together in their childhood home whilst loathing each other and Naomi, who knew them at school. All of them are living in the village they grew up in and are trapped by their past. I must admit that I didn’t like any of the three by the end of the story but I did find myself feeling sorry for them, as they had all become trapped by their reactions to past events.
The story is well written and we slowly start to find out what has happened in the past to each of the three main characters. All three have to face up to their past as the police start their investigation and old memories resurface. Although the story is sad in places, the day out in Birmingham for Antonia did make me laugh out loud, especially her visit to a fast food venue.
The message I took from the book was not to allow yourself to be stuck in an unhappy past, but to start looking forward, something we probably all need to do. See below for the purchase links so that you can also find out who the ‘old bones’ belonged to.
July 18, 2021
Farcical, sad, that two sixty-year-old women are still arguing over a trivial incident that occurred when they were teenagers, Diana tells us towards the end. I wondered which way the author wanted us to take the story. Was it farcical or sad?
https://annegoodwin.weebly.com/annecd...
https://annegoodwin.weebly.com/annecd...
January 3, 2026
4,5 Stars! Old Bones has a gentle pace and is a poignant story with a mystery in the background. Being in my 60's this was a really good book to kick off the year. The 3 protagonists Diana, Antonio and Naomi all stuck in the past and hiding behind regrets, distorted memories and secrets provide opportunities for reflection and how NOT to live out one's 60's!
May 14, 2021
This is SUCH a good read. Really well written, great characters, tight and interesting plot. Loved it!
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