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The Choir
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Expected 24 Feb 26In a world that wants to silence them, one group of women dares to sing.In the dreary streets of 1890s Briarstown, a fictional Yorkshire mill town, Eliza Kingwell fights to survive in a home filled with hardship. When a devastating loss crushes her plan to escape with her five daughters, she turns to an unlikely a local singing competition. With nothing left to lose, she gathers a feisty group of working-class women to form a choir-and sets her sights on a cash prize that could change her life forever.
Meanwhile, Ruth Henton-once Eliza's best friend and now a star on the London stage-is disgraced by scandal and must find new purpose and redemption. As fate would have it, Ruth becomes a judge in the very competition Eliza needs to win.
While Eliza's choir trains for its chance at glory, secrets simmer, friendships deepen, and long-buried wounds surface. In a time and place where women's voices are too often ignored, The Choir is a triumphant story of music, sisterhood, and reclaiming power.
Perfect for fans of Jennifer Chiaverini, Tracy Chevalier and Pip Williams, The Choir is a stirring, beautifully written novel that celebrates the strength of women who dare to rise-and sing.
Meanwhile, Ruth Henton-once Eliza's best friend and now a star on the London stage-is disgraced by scandal and must find new purpose and redemption. As fate would have it, Ruth becomes a judge in the very competition Eliza needs to win.
While Eliza's choir trains for its chance at glory, secrets simmer, friendships deepen, and long-buried wounds surface. In a time and place where women's voices are too often ignored, The Choir is a triumphant story of music, sisterhood, and reclaiming power.
Perfect for fans of Jennifer Chiaverini, Tracy Chevalier and Pip Williams, The Choir is a stirring, beautifully written novel that celebrates the strength of women who dare to rise-and sing.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
278 pages, Paperback
Expected publication February 24, 2026
3 people are currently reading
3124 people want to read
About the author
Carol M. Cram
13 books71 followersCarol M. Cram is the author of five novels including her latest "The Choir", an historical novel set in Yorkshire in the 1809s.
In her beautifully wrought novel, The Choir, set in 1890s England, Carol Cram deftly composes a lyrical portrait of courage, forgiveness, and the redemptive power of music. This story is rich with history and heart, and will remain with you like a favorite song. (Herb Williams-Dalgart, author of The Jingle Boys and The French Girl's War
Cram has also written a contemporary novel ("Love Among the Recipes" that received a Publishers Weekly starred review and three award-winning historical novels about women in the arts. "The Towers of Tuscany" was published by Lake Union Publishing in 2014. The novel was awarded the Chaucer Award (Chanticleer Reviews) for best historical fiction and Editor's Choice by the Historical Novel Review. "The Towers of Tuscany" tells the story of a woman painter in fourteenth century Italy. "A Woman of Note" was published in 2015 by Lake Union Publishing and was awarded the Goethe Award for Best in Category (Chanticleer Reviews) and Editor's Choice by the Historical Novel Society. The novel is set in Vienna in the 1830s and tells the story of a woman composer. Carol's third novel, "A Muse of Fire" (Kindle Books & New Arcadia Publishing 2018) received a Bronze for Best Historical Fiction from the Independent Publishers Book Awards and the Goethe Award for Best in Category. Set in 1809 in London, the novel delves into the riotous world of early 19th Century theater.
Carol is podcaster and travel blogger. She hosts The Art In Fiction Podcast on which she interviews novelists inspired by the arts. Her travel website Artsy Traveler (www.artsy-traveler.com) features artsy travel experiences throughout Europe, North America and beyond.
Carol has enjoyed a great career as an educator, teaching at Capilano University in North Vancouver for over twenty years and authoring fifty-plus bestselling textbooks on business communications and software applications for Cengage Learning. She holds an MA in Drama from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. She and her husband, painter Gregg Simpson, share a life on beautiful Bowen Island near Vancouver, Canada.
In her beautifully wrought novel, The Choir, set in 1890s England, Carol Cram deftly composes a lyrical portrait of courage, forgiveness, and the redemptive power of music. This story is rich with history and heart, and will remain with you like a favorite song. (Herb Williams-Dalgart, author of The Jingle Boys and The French Girl's War
Cram has also written a contemporary novel ("Love Among the Recipes" that received a Publishers Weekly starred review and three award-winning historical novels about women in the arts. "The Towers of Tuscany" was published by Lake Union Publishing in 2014. The novel was awarded the Chaucer Award (Chanticleer Reviews) for best historical fiction and Editor's Choice by the Historical Novel Review. "The Towers of Tuscany" tells the story of a woman painter in fourteenth century Italy. "A Woman of Note" was published in 2015 by Lake Union Publishing and was awarded the Goethe Award for Best in Category (Chanticleer Reviews) and Editor's Choice by the Historical Novel Society. The novel is set in Vienna in the 1830s and tells the story of a woman composer. Carol's third novel, "A Muse of Fire" (Kindle Books & New Arcadia Publishing 2018) received a Bronze for Best Historical Fiction from the Independent Publishers Book Awards and the Goethe Award for Best in Category. Set in 1809 in London, the novel delves into the riotous world of early 19th Century theater.
Carol is podcaster and travel blogger. She hosts The Art In Fiction Podcast on which she interviews novelists inspired by the arts. Her travel website Artsy Traveler (www.artsy-traveler.com) features artsy travel experiences throughout Europe, North America and beyond.
Carol has enjoyed a great career as an educator, teaching at Capilano University in North Vancouver for over twenty years and authoring fifty-plus bestselling textbooks on business communications and software applications for Cengage Learning. She holds an MA in Drama from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. She and her husband, painter Gregg Simpson, share a life on beautiful Bowen Island near Vancouver, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 30, 2025
It’s the 1890’s in the fictional East Yorkshire mill town of Briarstown, where we meet Eliza Kingwell. Eliza is married to Reg, who thinks nothing of drinking away his wages and using violence against Eliza in his drunken rages. They have five daughters, and every day is a struggle.
Eliza treasures a letter she received from her granny, telling her to bring her daughters and come live with her in Devon. It’s an impossible dream as there is barely enough money to feed the kids never mind finding the money to travel all the way to Devon.
Life carries on in its usual drab and dreary way, in a violent and loveless marriage, until Eliza hears about a singing competition, with prize money that would enable her to fulfill her dream.
Meanwhile down in London, Eliza’s one time friend, Ruth Henton, with whom she parted on bad terms, has become a star of the stage, renowned for her singing. When they were children, Eliza and Ruth were both admired for their beautiful singing voice, so if Ruth had become successful, why couldn’t Eliza win a singing competition? Well first she has to join a group of like minded local women, and then comes the seemingly impossible job of forming themselves into a choir that’s good enough to compete against the best choirs in the country!
The storyline follows both Eliza and Ruth, and what a journey it is. It’s inspirational to see these women from a small mill town gain confidence, camaraderie and friendship through the transformative power of song. As for Ruth, when a scandal rocks her life, she has to find a way back from the pit of despair. Highly recommended.
*Thank you to Netgalley and HTF Publishing for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
Eliza treasures a letter she received from her granny, telling her to bring her daughters and come live with her in Devon. It’s an impossible dream as there is barely enough money to feed the kids never mind finding the money to travel all the way to Devon.
Life carries on in its usual drab and dreary way, in a violent and loveless marriage, until Eliza hears about a singing competition, with prize money that would enable her to fulfill her dream.
Meanwhile down in London, Eliza’s one time friend, Ruth Henton, with whom she parted on bad terms, has become a star of the stage, renowned for her singing. When they were children, Eliza and Ruth were both admired for their beautiful singing voice, so if Ruth had become successful, why couldn’t Eliza win a singing competition? Well first she has to join a group of like minded local women, and then comes the seemingly impossible job of forming themselves into a choir that’s good enough to compete against the best choirs in the country!
The storyline follows both Eliza and Ruth, and what a journey it is. It’s inspirational to see these women from a small mill town gain confidence, camaraderie and friendship through the transformative power of song. As for Ruth, when a scandal rocks her life, she has to find a way back from the pit of despair. Highly recommended.
*Thank you to Netgalley and HTF Publishing for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
December 3, 2025
1897, Briarstown, Yorkshire. Eliza Kingwell has made a few mistakes and the main one being she married Reg, he’s abusive and controlling and the couple have five daughters and she’s plotting their escape.
A group of local ladies want to form a choir and enter a competition in Whitby, and it’s made up of mothers and working class women. Eliza was a talented singer as a girl and she’s reluctant to join at first, even if she can find a conductor to lead them, they only have five months to practice and Reg hates her doing anything outside of the house and he’s clever in how he uses his fists.
Ruth Henton is a star of the Palladia Theatre in London and Eliza’s childhood friend, she’s famous, beautiful, and wealthy and has caught the eye of the Prince of Wales. When her husband James causes a scandal, Ruth loses everything and the only job she can find is as one of the judges on the music competition circuit.
Eliza’s and the group practice in the church hall, she’s done her best to stay away from her peers in the past and they form a bond and friendship and maybe it will be Eliza’s and her daughter’s way to escape the mill town and Reg.
I received a copy of The Choir by Carol M. Cram from NetGalley and HTF Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review. Based around Mary Wakefield a real lady, who brought music to rural areas such as the fictional town of Briarstown and the rise and popularity of music competitions.
An inspirational and uplifting story, how singing united a group of ladies, it made them feel powerful and heard at a time when women didn’t have many rights, their voices were ignored and the suffragette movement was in it’s infancy.
Five stars from me and I was blown away by this historical fiction gem, I really liked the comparison between the two main characters Eliza and Ruth and I highly recommend.
A group of local ladies want to form a choir and enter a competition in Whitby, and it’s made up of mothers and working class women. Eliza was a talented singer as a girl and she’s reluctant to join at first, even if she can find a conductor to lead them, they only have five months to practice and Reg hates her doing anything outside of the house and he’s clever in how he uses his fists.
Ruth Henton is a star of the Palladia Theatre in London and Eliza’s childhood friend, she’s famous, beautiful, and wealthy and has caught the eye of the Prince of Wales. When her husband James causes a scandal, Ruth loses everything and the only job she can find is as one of the judges on the music competition circuit.
Eliza’s and the group practice in the church hall, she’s done her best to stay away from her peers in the past and they form a bond and friendship and maybe it will be Eliza’s and her daughter’s way to escape the mill town and Reg.
I received a copy of The Choir by Carol M. Cram from NetGalley and HTF Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review. Based around Mary Wakefield a real lady, who brought music to rural areas such as the fictional town of Briarstown and the rise and popularity of music competitions.
An inspirational and uplifting story, how singing united a group of ladies, it made them feel powerful and heard at a time when women didn’t have many rights, their voices were ignored and the suffragette movement was in it’s infancy.
Five stars from me and I was blown away by this historical fiction gem, I really liked the comparison between the two main characters Eliza and Ruth and I highly recommend.
November 13, 2025
Late 1890s, East Yorkshire
A single sheet of paper-Granny’s letter told Eliza Kingwell to bring herself and her five daughters to Devon (her childhood home) by the sea. Eliza had purposely kept her distance from the other women in Briarstown to hide what went on behind closed doors. She was devastated when her husband Reg discovered her “Plan” escape fund. The cupboard hung open. “Eight years of savings. Eight years of planning and hoping. Eight years gone.” Would she be able to weave a lie about why she was squirreling away money? Eliza wanted “to keep (her daughters) safe and teach them how to get on in life in a world that wouldn’t do them any favors…”.
Ruth Henton had left Briarstown twelve years ago and was now a star on the London Stage. "Ruth was everything Eliza would never be-beautiful, famous, rich-and able to sing for audiences who adored her". She appeared to have it all. The Prince of Wales requested to dine with her after a performance. One evening, Ruth failed to hit a high note in her solo as Yum Yum in the Mikado. One is only as good as one’s last performance. The missed note. Her husband was embroiled in scandal. She was no longer the theater’s “vocal” darling. Her independence and freedom were at stake.
“The music competition movement… sweeping the nation attract(ed) entrants from choirs at every level-village choirs, amateur groups of mill hands…a fair number of church and cathedral choirs.” A local newspaper ad in Briarstown read: “Female voice choir of not less than eight and no more than twenty voices…” Eliza remembered the applause…the joy from performing at age eleven under the direction of Ms. Donahue, her school teacher at the mill school. “Eliza want(ed) to put bits of herself back together…Some days she felt like she no longer had a soul, that Reg had taken it along with her happiness, her dignity, her hope-and even her voice.” The winning group in the Ladies Choir Category in Whitby would split a monetary prize. Perhaps Eliza’s Plan to leave Reg could still be realized.
The reader is introduced to the women of the mill town of fictional Briarstown. A singing camaraderie forms. Some spouses were vehemently opposed to their wives participation in the choir while others welcomed the opportunity to support their wives. It was a surprising turn of events that Ruth Henton’s theatrical demise would evolve into her role as one of the adjudicators for choral competitions.
Ms. Donahue had a daunting task. Would this former teacher be able to turn a group of inexperienced singers into a well balanced chorus whose voices could magically blend together. Many of their competitors had been singing together for years. Eliza had only joined the choir to secure enough money to execute her “Plan” to leave Briarstown behind. She had never expected to make good friends.
In alternating chapters, Eliza and Ruth’s intertwining story speaks of secrets and regrets, forgiveness and newfound resiliency. The choral experience is a segway to women’s friendship “fractured by years of cares and responsibilities that often took them to the edges of poverty….”. From mothers and wives and mill hands they had transformed themselves into a choir united in a common purpose.”
Highly recommended.
Thank you Colin Mustful @History Through Fiction for the Print ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A single sheet of paper-Granny’s letter told Eliza Kingwell to bring herself and her five daughters to Devon (her childhood home) by the sea. Eliza had purposely kept her distance from the other women in Briarstown to hide what went on behind closed doors. She was devastated when her husband Reg discovered her “Plan” escape fund. The cupboard hung open. “Eight years of savings. Eight years of planning and hoping. Eight years gone.” Would she be able to weave a lie about why she was squirreling away money? Eliza wanted “to keep (her daughters) safe and teach them how to get on in life in a world that wouldn’t do them any favors…”.
Ruth Henton had left Briarstown twelve years ago and was now a star on the London Stage. "Ruth was everything Eliza would never be-beautiful, famous, rich-and able to sing for audiences who adored her". She appeared to have it all. The Prince of Wales requested to dine with her after a performance. One evening, Ruth failed to hit a high note in her solo as Yum Yum in the Mikado. One is only as good as one’s last performance. The missed note. Her husband was embroiled in scandal. She was no longer the theater’s “vocal” darling. Her independence and freedom were at stake.
“The music competition movement… sweeping the nation attract(ed) entrants from choirs at every level-village choirs, amateur groups of mill hands…a fair number of church and cathedral choirs.” A local newspaper ad in Briarstown read: “Female voice choir of not less than eight and no more than twenty voices…” Eliza remembered the applause…the joy from performing at age eleven under the direction of Ms. Donahue, her school teacher at the mill school. “Eliza want(ed) to put bits of herself back together…Some days she felt like she no longer had a soul, that Reg had taken it along with her happiness, her dignity, her hope-and even her voice.” The winning group in the Ladies Choir Category in Whitby would split a monetary prize. Perhaps Eliza’s Plan to leave Reg could still be realized.
The reader is introduced to the women of the mill town of fictional Briarstown. A singing camaraderie forms. Some spouses were vehemently opposed to their wives participation in the choir while others welcomed the opportunity to support their wives. It was a surprising turn of events that Ruth Henton’s theatrical demise would evolve into her role as one of the adjudicators for choral competitions.
Ms. Donahue had a daunting task. Would this former teacher be able to turn a group of inexperienced singers into a well balanced chorus whose voices could magically blend together. Many of their competitors had been singing together for years. Eliza had only joined the choir to secure enough money to execute her “Plan” to leave Briarstown behind. She had never expected to make good friends.
In alternating chapters, Eliza and Ruth’s intertwining story speaks of secrets and regrets, forgiveness and newfound resiliency. The choral experience is a segway to women’s friendship “fractured by years of cares and responsibilities that often took them to the edges of poverty….”. From mothers and wives and mill hands they had transformed themselves into a choir united in a common purpose.”
Highly recommended.
Thank you Colin Mustful @History Through Fiction for the Print ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"The Choir" is a beautifully written story. I read every single word (which sometimes I don't when not fully engaged or the language is a bit too flowery).
Carol M Cram reminds me of the joys of being part of choir. Digging deep within yourself, finding your voice to make a (hopefully) pleasing sound to blend with others, share with others and enjoy with friends. By singing, you are delivering beautifully written words and conveying the story as dreamt by the composer, which can be very emotional; awakening parts of you that may be dormant or undiscovered.
The comraderie of this group of hard working women in 1890's Briarstown is the only bright light in their week for many. Eliza Kingwell's singing voice has been private for many years but she is persuaded by neighbours to find it once again. But this is at great risk. Physical violence is part of her life with controlling husband Reg. She hides this behind closed doors but has a plan and a dream for a better life with her five daughters. The village choir's success might make this possible.
Ruth, Eliza's best friend of school days, escaped the working class village years ago and used her stunning voice as a path to stardom in the London theatre world. But life, is not always as rich as it seems when your husband misleads you and finally deserts you in the most permanent way. Harsh realities of being destitute focus the mind; on what is most important in life.
"The Choir" is a heartfelt story of sisterhood in a safe space where mutal encouragement helps you to lift your voice, your mood, find your inner strength and the true feeling of joy.
Thanks to NetGalley, Carol M Cram and HTF Publishing for my copy. I'd love to read more books by Carol and will search out her back catalogue.
Carol M Cram reminds me of the joys of being part of choir. Digging deep within yourself, finding your voice to make a (hopefully) pleasing sound to blend with others, share with others and enjoy with friends. By singing, you are delivering beautifully written words and conveying the story as dreamt by the composer, which can be very emotional; awakening parts of you that may be dormant or undiscovered.
The comraderie of this group of hard working women in 1890's Briarstown is the only bright light in their week for many. Eliza Kingwell's singing voice has been private for many years but she is persuaded by neighbours to find it once again. But this is at great risk. Physical violence is part of her life with controlling husband Reg. She hides this behind closed doors but has a plan and a dream for a better life with her five daughters. The village choir's success might make this possible.
Ruth, Eliza's best friend of school days, escaped the working class village years ago and used her stunning voice as a path to stardom in the London theatre world. But life, is not always as rich as it seems when your husband misleads you and finally deserts you in the most permanent way. Harsh realities of being destitute focus the mind; on what is most important in life.
"The Choir" is a heartfelt story of sisterhood in a safe space where mutal encouragement helps you to lift your voice, your mood, find your inner strength and the true feeling of joy.
Thanks to NetGalley, Carol M Cram and HTF Publishing for my copy. I'd love to read more books by Carol and will search out her back catalogue.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Set in the late nineteenth century, The Choir unfolds in the fictional working-class mill town of Briarstown, Yorkshire.
At its heart is Eliza, a mother of five daughters trapped in an abusive marriage to a violent alcoholic. Desperate to escape and bring her children to safety at her grandmother’s home, Eliza finds herself without the means to do so.
Running parallel to Eliza’s story is that of her childhood friend Ruth, now a celebrated professional singer. Night after night, Ruth performs before adoring audiences, yet behind the applause she faces serious challenges in both her career and personal life.
Eliza and Ruth have not seen one another for many years following a painful falling-out, the cause of which is slowly revealed to the reader. Author Carol M. Cram skillfully weaves their stories through alternating chapters, tracing parallel journeys of heartbreak and resilience that ultimately lead to their long-awaited reunion.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Choir. It is an uplifting story of grit, determination, and the restorative power of friendship, as well as the healing force of music.
Trigger Warning: The Choir contains depictions of domestic violence, sexual assault of a minor, and alcoholism.
I received an advance review copy at no cost and am leaving this review voluntarily.
At its heart is Eliza, a mother of five daughters trapped in an abusive marriage to a violent alcoholic. Desperate to escape and bring her children to safety at her grandmother’s home, Eliza finds herself without the means to do so.
Running parallel to Eliza’s story is that of her childhood friend Ruth, now a celebrated professional singer. Night after night, Ruth performs before adoring audiences, yet behind the applause she faces serious challenges in both her career and personal life.
Eliza and Ruth have not seen one another for many years following a painful falling-out, the cause of which is slowly revealed to the reader. Author Carol M. Cram skillfully weaves their stories through alternating chapters, tracing parallel journeys of heartbreak and resilience that ultimately lead to their long-awaited reunion.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Choir. It is an uplifting story of grit, determination, and the restorative power of friendship, as well as the healing force of music.
Trigger Warning: The Choir contains depictions of domestic violence, sexual assault of a minor, and alcoholism.
I received an advance review copy at no cost and am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 9, 2025
The Choir is the most moving and uplifting book I’ve read this year. Carol Cram brings 1890s Briarstown to life with a story that is at once gritty, tender, and triumphant. I felt completely swept into the circle of brave, working-class women who discover their strength and dignity by learning to sing together. Eliza’s fierce determination, Ruth’s journey toward redemption, and the fragile, hard-won sisterhood among the choir members made the novel feel deeply personal. Cram beautifully captures the way music can restore hope and transform lives. I cherished every moment and didn’t want to leave these characters behind.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
November 29, 2025
The Choir is a rousing novel set in an 1890s English village where Eliza Kingwell is desperate to save her five girls from mill work—and herself from a life of drudgery and a loveless marriage. She gathers an unlikely band of working-class women to form a choir in hopes of winning a purse to buy her freedom. But when she encounters a former friend who is slated to judge the competition, old hurts and new possibilities collide. Filled with courage, companionship, and the transformative power of song, this is a story of women who fight to be heard. Perfect for readers who love rich historical settings and unforgettable female resilience.
October 25, 2025
It was wonderful going on the journey with the mill women finding their confidence via singing. Choirs create an incredible feeling of togetherness, strength and camaraderie which was well written into this beautifully crafted story. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews