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A Relative Invasion #1
Intrusion
In 1937, England, the threat of war in Europe is matched by that at home for five-year-old Billy. His battle begins when he is introduced to his frail and artistic cousin, Kenneth. Adored by adults for his porcelain looks and toothpaste smile, Kenneth is a psychological bully. Smaller than Billy, although older, he displays the same emotions that allow Hitler's rise to power - envy over strength, desire for new territory.
With emotionally distant parents, a bullying uncle and a manipulative cousin, Billy starts to stutter. He retreats into imagining he owns the precious Cossack sabre of his father’s colleague. This icon sustains Billy through separations, hardships and eventually, the dreadful reality of war. Unexpected challenges lie ahead and Billy must learn to meet them.
With emotionally distant parents, a bullying uncle and a manipulative cousin, Billy starts to stutter. He retreats into imagining he owns the precious Cossack sabre of his father’s colleague. This icon sustains Billy through separations, hardships and eventually, the dreadful reality of war. Unexpected challenges lie ahead and Billy must learn to meet them.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 21, 2014
About the author
Rosalind Minett
25 books52 followersA chartered psychologist in my other life, I enjoy writing about ordinary people in unusual situations, or unusual people struggling to fit in. My style is light, but even in humorous stories, there is always a dark edge.
Historical fiction: a trilogy set in WWII told from the perspective of a young boy. A Relative Invasion. Book 1, Intrusion, Book 2 Infiltration out in paperback and ebooks. Amazon Ratings 4.8 and 5.0 . Book 3 Impact to follow late 2016.
My collection of ironic short stories, Me-Time Tales: Tea-breaks for mature women and curious men, is available in paperback and e books. New edition, April 28th 2016.
Crime Shorts, a series. No. 1, updated, new cover. A boy with potential, no. 2, Homed, no. 3 Not Her Fault. Kindle only.
Two other novels (psychological dramas) are in the editing stage.
My other interests are Fine Art, Architecture, Dance and my hobby is sculpture. There's a similarity between creating characters in writing and creating forms in three dimensions or ‘cutting them down to size’.
The avatar stands instead of an author headshot. It saucily re-works Picasso's girl to show a word processor rather than a mirror. The two faces represent my serious and irreverent sides, the observer/recorder and the internal/external selves.
On Amazon I review literary and historical fiction, world literature in translation, children's books and some non-fiction. No dystopia, vampire, chicklit. When I like something, I take trouble to promote it.
I have two blogs: the quirky Me-Time Tales, and characterfulwriter, about the process of writing, where I also review.
http://fictionalcharacterswriting.blo... and http://characterfulwriter.com
Historical fiction: a trilogy set in WWII told from the perspective of a young boy. A Relative Invasion. Book 1, Intrusion, Book 2 Infiltration out in paperback and ebooks. Amazon Ratings 4.8 and 5.0 . Book 3 Impact to follow late 2016.
My collection of ironic short stories, Me-Time Tales: Tea-breaks for mature women and curious men, is available in paperback and e books. New edition, April 28th 2016.
Crime Shorts, a series. No. 1, updated, new cover. A boy with potential, no. 2, Homed, no. 3 Not Her Fault. Kindle only.
Two other novels (psychological dramas) are in the editing stage.
My other interests are Fine Art, Architecture, Dance and my hobby is sculpture. There's a similarity between creating characters in writing and creating forms in three dimensions or ‘cutting them down to size’.
The avatar stands instead of an author headshot. It saucily re-works Picasso's girl to show a word processor rather than a mirror. The two faces represent my serious and irreverent sides, the observer/recorder and the internal/external selves.
On Amazon I review literary and historical fiction, world literature in translation, children's books and some non-fiction. No dystopia, vampire, chicklit. When I like something, I take trouble to promote it.
I have two blogs: the quirky Me-Time Tales, and characterfulwriter, about the process of writing, where I also review.
http://fictionalcharacterswriting.blo... and http://characterfulwriter.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
October 5, 2014
Young Billy Wilson is brought to life in this powerful narrative about childhood rivalry. Against the backdrop of the build up to the Second World War, Billy's life is changed forever when his cousin Kenneth comes to play. Written with great psychological insight and an appreciation of the era, Intrusion follows billy through the trauma of his cousin's arrival, bullying by his uncle and the shock of evacuation. I found the character of Billy so realistic and appealing, this book had me in tears several times and was left thinking about Billy long after I'd finished reading. Very highly recommended.
May 8, 2015
Innocent and kind, Billy Wilson lives a pleasant life in London with his fussy mother, barrister father, and a new baby sister. His is a world untouched by war and drama, until rumors of Hitler’s army begin to float around town and whispers carry the dangers of a bleak future for England. In the midst of it all, Billy’s own war comes upon him in the shape of his devious cousin, Kenneth. Frail and handsome, Kenneth seems to be the joy of every grown-up he meets, while Billy – try as he might – always seems to fall short of pleasing. With their family, Kenneth is all grace and charm, but behind closed doors Billy soon recognizes Kenneth for what he is: a bully and a lair. As the onset of World War II turns the lives of all Englanders upside down, Billy is swept up in a hurricane that mixes Kenneth’s psychological attacks with the threat of air raids and desperate evacuations. Through it all, Billy’s imagination keeps him grounded as he dreams of owning a Cossack sabre like that of kindly Mr. Durbins, a weapon that would, he imagines, keep both Hitler’s dangerous war and Kenneth’s horrid bullying at bay.
Intrusion, the first book in Rosalind Minett’s historical trilogy, is an intensely readable novel that balances the poignancy of youth with the ageless struggle for acceptance in a world governed by brutes. Minett reimagines a London on the cusp of war with imagery that leaps from the pages, particularly as seen through the eyes of remarkable young Billy. The author’s dedicated research and inherent knack for storytelling grab the reader’s attention from the first moment and maintains its cinematic hold until the last page. The grown-up anxiety of an impending war mixes with a child’s worry of being evacuated to a strange house in the country; the sightless drama of living through air raids and the quiet terror evoked by the carrying of gas masks all speak to the raw experience of England in the late-1930s as wireless radios announce news from abroad and warn of the dangers making their way to home. With sharp attention to detail and a deep sense of emotional complexity, Minett wraps the world of her novel around the reader with skillful eloquence.
While England is poised precariously on the cusp of war, what comes most startlingly to life in Intrusion is the protagonist, Billy: his physical experience in the story as well as his heart-warming imagination, which keeps him hopeful in the face of harsh realities. Billy is bullied at the hands of both his cousin Kenneth and his imposing Uncle Frank, a topic that Minett handles with much grace and gentleness. Almost always seen as an imposition or nuisance, Billy’s only escape from being both mistreated and misunderstood is his daydream of being a great warrior with the power to vanquish anyone – be it Hitler, or Kenneth, or mean Uncle Frank – to the ends of the earth. Every character in the novel comes to life under Minett’s insightful prose, but Billy takes a special place in the reader’s heart as he endeavors to make sense of the terrible things that have begun happening to him. He is at turns taunted by his cousin with lies and fearsome truths – having, then, to decipher which is which – and berated by his family for the stammer that undoubtedly arises as the result of his constant worry. His experience is put to the page through a touchingly honest narrative that captures the innocence of youth and draws from the reader an even deeper affection for the charming young hero. With a true mastering of the era and her characters, Minett sets readers up for a captivating series with Intrusion.
(Review © Casee Marie, originally published on LiteraryInklings.com. A copy of the book was provided for the purpose of review.)
Intrusion, the first book in Rosalind Minett’s historical trilogy, is an intensely readable novel that balances the poignancy of youth with the ageless struggle for acceptance in a world governed by brutes. Minett reimagines a London on the cusp of war with imagery that leaps from the pages, particularly as seen through the eyes of remarkable young Billy. The author’s dedicated research and inherent knack for storytelling grab the reader’s attention from the first moment and maintains its cinematic hold until the last page. The grown-up anxiety of an impending war mixes with a child’s worry of being evacuated to a strange house in the country; the sightless drama of living through air raids and the quiet terror evoked by the carrying of gas masks all speak to the raw experience of England in the late-1930s as wireless radios announce news from abroad and warn of the dangers making their way to home. With sharp attention to detail and a deep sense of emotional complexity, Minett wraps the world of her novel around the reader with skillful eloquence.
While England is poised precariously on the cusp of war, what comes most startlingly to life in Intrusion is the protagonist, Billy: his physical experience in the story as well as his heart-warming imagination, which keeps him hopeful in the face of harsh realities. Billy is bullied at the hands of both his cousin Kenneth and his imposing Uncle Frank, a topic that Minett handles with much grace and gentleness. Almost always seen as an imposition or nuisance, Billy’s only escape from being both mistreated and misunderstood is his daydream of being a great warrior with the power to vanquish anyone – be it Hitler, or Kenneth, or mean Uncle Frank – to the ends of the earth. Every character in the novel comes to life under Minett’s insightful prose, but Billy takes a special place in the reader’s heart as he endeavors to make sense of the terrible things that have begun happening to him. He is at turns taunted by his cousin with lies and fearsome truths – having, then, to decipher which is which – and berated by his family for the stammer that undoubtedly arises as the result of his constant worry. His experience is put to the page through a touchingly honest narrative that captures the innocence of youth and draws from the reader an even deeper affection for the charming young hero. With a true mastering of the era and her characters, Minett sets readers up for a captivating series with Intrusion.
(Review © Casee Marie, originally published on LiteraryInklings.com. A copy of the book was provided for the purpose of review.)
February 21, 2016
I found this tale a cross between Room and Carrie's War.
A middle-class London boy who is aged five at the start but can't even read yet and seems younger, is the protagonist. Billy has to cope with his slightly older and more dominant cousin Kenneth, who is a clear metaphor for Hitler or Germany. Nobody supervises the boys so Kenneth is free to bully, steal, lie and threaten, all in a schoolboyish manner of course. At the head of each chapter we get the progress of events towards WW2. Billy's father works as a clerk in the courts so I was surprised that he wears a wig like a judge.
With the onset of war, gas masks, Anderson shelters and aeroplanes, arrives a baby sister for Billy. Along with his class, he is sent out to the countryside and the evacuees are housed by various village women; Billy is happy to be free of Kenneth but shares a tiny room in a cottage with another boy. The lady of the house gets a small payment per child but she is impoverished by Billy's standards, as he realises when he returns home later. Back in London, he has to meet his cousin and finds no improvement. Then the war arrives.
I think this book would suit other readers better, as I just don't enjoy spending a lot of time in the viewpoint of a not very bright child. I found it odd that Billy couldn't read and his thought processes were so babyish, because only children spend more time around adults than with younger children. The evacuation was the best part for me. The atmosphere is well evoked but I prefer to read wartime social history from the point of view of adults or young adults, such as Lights Out Liverpool; Conner Street's War; You Are My Sunshine; Munitions Girls. These depict people who are actively doing things and learning, as opposed to a child who is passive and observing without understanding. As I say, that is just my preference.
I found some editing oddities such as page numbers in the middle of Kindle pages, which may have been edited out by now. Overall the writing seems careful and it must have taken a lot of thought to recreate these years from a small child's viewpoint. I was gifted a copy of this book for an unbiased review.
A middle-class London boy who is aged five at the start but can't even read yet and seems younger, is the protagonist. Billy has to cope with his slightly older and more dominant cousin Kenneth, who is a clear metaphor for Hitler or Germany. Nobody supervises the boys so Kenneth is free to bully, steal, lie and threaten, all in a schoolboyish manner of course. At the head of each chapter we get the progress of events towards WW2. Billy's father works as a clerk in the courts so I was surprised that he wears a wig like a judge.
With the onset of war, gas masks, Anderson shelters and aeroplanes, arrives a baby sister for Billy. Along with his class, he is sent out to the countryside and the evacuees are housed by various village women; Billy is happy to be free of Kenneth but shares a tiny room in a cottage with another boy. The lady of the house gets a small payment per child but she is impoverished by Billy's standards, as he realises when he returns home later. Back in London, he has to meet his cousin and finds no improvement. Then the war arrives.
I think this book would suit other readers better, as I just don't enjoy spending a lot of time in the viewpoint of a not very bright child. I found it odd that Billy couldn't read and his thought processes were so babyish, because only children spend more time around adults than with younger children. The evacuation was the best part for me. The atmosphere is well evoked but I prefer to read wartime social history from the point of view of adults or young adults, such as Lights Out Liverpool; Conner Street's War; You Are My Sunshine; Munitions Girls. These depict people who are actively doing things and learning, as opposed to a child who is passive and observing without understanding. As I say, that is just my preference.
I found some editing oddities such as page numbers in the middle of Kindle pages, which may have been edited out by now. Overall the writing seems careful and it must have taken a lot of thought to recreate these years from a small child's viewpoint. I was gifted a copy of this book for an unbiased review.
November 13, 2014
A Relative Invasion is an enchanting book written by Rosalind Minett who is a master of research. She has skillfully conjured scenes from the WWII era and the chaos and desperation of that time. She has managed to bring it to the reader’s mind seamlessly and effortlessly with clever interpretations from a five-year old mind.
The Characters are realistic down to Billy’s stammer and his mother’s inability to sacrifice at the start of the book. I think people resonate more with flawed characters, especially those who tend to be superficial. We can still find it in our hearts to root for them hoping that they will improve later on. The feeling of apprehension in the early chapters is the hook for me as are Billy’s feelings of isolation and his insecurity which only his grandparents are able to bridge. And the war is a permanent threat even with Kenneth’s bullying and the lies he is able to get away with.
I gave this book high stars since I felt much of it was written from true experience
The Characters are realistic down to Billy’s stammer and his mother’s inability to sacrifice at the start of the book. I think people resonate more with flawed characters, especially those who tend to be superficial. We can still find it in our hearts to root for them hoping that they will improve later on. The feeling of apprehension in the early chapters is the hook for me as are Billy’s feelings of isolation and his insecurity which only his grandparents are able to bridge. And the war is a permanent threat even with Kenneth’s bullying and the lies he is able to get away with.
I gave this book high stars since I felt much of it was written from true experience
April 26, 2020
Loved this book can't wait for book 2.
May 12, 2015
Intrusion, A Relative Invasion by Rosalind Minett is a lite, easy to read story that will grab you and keep you glued to its page from beginning to end. This is the type of book you love cozying up to and getting lost to the outside world reading it.
It is hard to imagine growing up, as a child with all the normal family dynamics, in the middle of London in World War II. Rosalind Minett has put together a tale of just such a life with this book. The story revolves around Billy, a young boy growing up in a very dysfunctional family. Billy will grab your heart as you grow attached to him and his situation. The author has done a great job of developing each of her characters giving them life with words.
The storyline is full of joy and sadness as you see the realities of war time life. The author has done a great job of putting together a tale that is so believable that you find yourself there. You can tell Rosalind Minett has done her research by the realness and historical accuracy of the story.
I liked Intrusion, A Relative Invasion by Rosalind Minett and I recommend it to all readers.
[Please note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.]
It is hard to imagine growing up, as a child with all the normal family dynamics, in the middle of London in World War II. Rosalind Minett has put together a tale of just such a life with this book. The story revolves around Billy, a young boy growing up in a very dysfunctional family. Billy will grab your heart as you grow attached to him and his situation. The author has done a great job of developing each of her characters giving them life with words.
The storyline is full of joy and sadness as you see the realities of war time life. The author has done a great job of putting together a tale that is so believable that you find yourself there. You can tell Rosalind Minett has done her research by the realness and historical accuracy of the story.
I liked Intrusion, A Relative Invasion by Rosalind Minett and I recommend it to all readers.
[Please note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.]
January 17, 2016
What makes this book work so well is its pitch perfect portrayal of a small child trying to make sense not just of the world according to grown ups, but of a world gone mad during the second world war. Faced with a smooth, clever and cruel oppressor in his cousin, Kenneth, Billy starts to lose the safe feeling of childhood, learning from a very early age that he must somehow endure, survive and ultimately protect himself. Billy is a very sympathetic character without Minett ever resorting to a bathos of sentiment. Kenneth is a subtly nasty creation and a real credit to the author. The historical detail is rich, believable but un-intrusive. I especially like how Billy is facing his own 'Hitler' figure within his own home, while the grown up incarnation of Kenneth is just beginning his sweeping career of atrocity in Europe. Big or small, tyrants need to be confronted, evil fought and hopefully defeated. This is apparent in the story without an irritating moralising edge. Cap that performance with a Minett's gripping and well executed prose and you have a jewel of a book. Move over Rutya Sepetys.
October 23, 2014
Really enjoyed this, particular the stark and simple times of wartime Britain which are superbly evoked with just the simplest of brush strokes. As an 'only' child of the 50s myself (and in Balham, probably just down the road from Billy), this book resonates quite strongly with me - I can still remember licking the wrapper of barley sugar, listening to the booming news on the radio (no TV back then) and clattering lonelily around the hallway (bare floors, no money for carpets) with my toys. But Billy is such a sad little soul, no-one around him, not even his teacher, has time for him and his mother sounds permanently disapproving and cross. The father sounds unbelievably naive about the needs of his child, was this a sign of the times? Whatever, I have yet to read a book that gets so well into the mind of a small boy – truly impressive. Looking forward to reading more from the talented Ms Minett , well done!
May 20, 2015
I read dozens of books each year, but few of them are as beautifully written as Intrusion. The pacing was perfect for me, and I found myself wondering how a modern adult woman can capture so well the voice of a five-year-old boy from over sixty years ago.
Minett's economic, yet powerful writing does a wonderful job at immersing the reader inside Bill's world. Her strength lies in the power of hints. A word here. A whisper there. A poorly understood gesture. These are all confusing to Bill, but perfectly clear to the reader, who can't help but feel for the hapless hero, victim to forces he can barely fathom, let alone control.
Even better is the underlying, parallel narration of the events unfolding in Europe, mirroring the invasion of Bill's quiet life by Kenneth. I have read many books on the war, yet few of them manage to capture so well the atmosphere of it all.
All in all, a masterful tale by an obviously very talented story-teller.
Minett's economic, yet powerful writing does a wonderful job at immersing the reader inside Bill's world. Her strength lies in the power of hints. A word here. A whisper there. A poorly understood gesture. These are all confusing to Bill, but perfectly clear to the reader, who can't help but feel for the hapless hero, victim to forces he can barely fathom, let alone control.
Even better is the underlying, parallel narration of the events unfolding in Europe, mirroring the invasion of Bill's quiet life by Kenneth. I have read many books on the war, yet few of them manage to capture so well the atmosphere of it all.
All in all, a masterful tale by an obviously very talented story-teller.
February 8, 2015
I’ve just finished reading book 1 in Rosalind Minett’s trilogy about a boyhood rivalry that mirrors the tensions in Europe during WWII. Well written and an absorbing read. I’m looking forward to book 2 and can’t help worrying about the sword, which, I fear, will assume greater importance as the narrative unfolds.
July 16, 2016
A nicely written tale set in England during the lead up to WWII and the first part of the war, told from the point of view of a young boy (age 5-8 during the story). It is filled with many interesting tidbits of what life might have been like during that fascinating era, and it's interesting to see it all from a child's perspective.
December 1, 2015
One is kind and thoughtful, the other sickly and selfish. Together, they endure World War II in England, both at home and in the country. Rich with historical detail.
March 2, 2021
Intrusion is an addictive read that virtually transports the reader into the 1940’s. It’s clear right from the start that the author has meticulously researched her subject and setting with references to foods and home appliances long since lost to the past. The dialogue too has that same ‘feel’ as if from days gone by. That’s not to say it’s old fashioned or in any way hard to read and follow, it most certainly is not, but it takes you to the setting completely. The story revolves around Billy and his life. Rather than a story of the second world war this is more a story about a young boy as he grows and struggles to find his place within his own family. I don’t want to give too much of the wonderful story away but I’ll go as far as to say he has many personal challenges from his closest family and that of his cousin. The life Rosalind Minnett brings to these characters and the sharp and completely believable interaction between them is what this story is about. There are timeless moments of family stresses that we can all relate to. When that is allied with the excellent work creating the setting and times of war the story cannot fail to draw the reader in. To say this author’s skill lies with her understanding and characterisation of people would, although true, do a disservice to the story. She takes the family setting and weaves it into the most difficult of times to create a story that is both excellent and compelling. The story continues over three books so readers should be prepared for a feeling of wanting more come the end. Isn’t that after all the best recommendation a book can get?
January 28, 2021
When I first started reading this book, I didn't think I would like it. There were just so many unlikable characters. Billy (about 7 years old when the book starts) is the main character in the book. Just about everybody in his life is unkind to him. He has a cousin Kenneth, who is a bit older and bullies him. The adults in Billy's life aren't much better. They seem to always take Kenneth's side in any situation and always seem to believe Kenneth who torments Billy and either breaks or steals Billy's toys. Billy's mother particularly angered me because she never stood up for her child and just seemed to consider him to be a nuisance. He is also bullied by Kenneth's father- Uncle Frank who is jealous of the fact that Billy is bigger, stronger and healthier than Kenneth and does his best to make him feel worthless. Fortunately, Billy has a few adults in his life who do support him and help him with his self esteem. All of this happens with the backdrop of World War II in Great Britain. Billy and Kenneth live with their parents in London when Germany starts bombing the city. Billy (and eventually Kenneth) is sent to the country to live away from the bombing and are billeted with families that they don't know.
I ended up liking this book and liked the way that Billy's character was developed throughout the book. The author also did a good job on the other characters and made me dislike them, which was probably her intent.
I ended up liking this book and liked the way that Billy's character was developed throughout the book. The author also did a good job on the other characters and made me dislike them, which was probably her intent.
September 28, 2020
very exciting historical fiction story by "Rosalind Minett". The research that went into thus story you can tell it was done and so much of it. The characters in this story is different because you see things through a child's eyes and the events of World War II. As you read,you are placed into the story and the emotional feelings. Wonderful writing and a must read,so very emotional. First time reading this and hope there will be more to the story! This is where two cousins met,so different they are! Follow Billy Anotherand Kenneth during this war and see what happens to both as the war gets closer to England!
September 18, 2018
I wanted to read about war-torn England
This story is about Billy, and starts during the 1930's. He was very happy in his London neighborhood, with family all around. Then he is sent on his 1st evacuation, that was really interesting. He comes back to London late during 1939. Things have changed, and he spends time living during the early bombings. The last few pages are about the beginning of his next adventure, I could not stop crying. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
This story is about Billy, and starts during the 1930's. He was very happy in his London neighborhood, with family all around. Then he is sent on his 1st evacuation, that was really interesting. He comes back to London late during 1939. Things have changed, and he spends time living during the early bombings. The last few pages are about the beginning of his next adventure, I could not stop crying. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
April 11, 2018
A boy’s take on the time before and during the first period of WWII
Minett writes a believable boy. Also, a likable boy. His best character features come to the fore, as life becomes complex. Whether bombs fall, or he must go into provisional billeting, he keeps his ideals and dreams. The narrative moves through London in the pre-war period and beyond, but to get the complete picture one would have to read the entire series. I should certainly like to.
Minett writes a believable boy. Also, a likable boy. His best character features come to the fore, as life becomes complex. Whether bombs fall, or he must go into provisional billeting, he keeps his ideals and dreams. The narrative moves through London in the pre-war period and beyond, but to get the complete picture one would have to read the entire series. I should certainly like to.
August 7, 2018
The first book in A Relative Invasion trilogy that starts in 1937, before World War II.
I won a copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. So that others may also enjoy this book, I am paying it forward by donating it to my local library.
I won a copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. So that others may also enjoy this book, I am paying it forward by donating it to my local library.
July 12, 2019
A charming coming of age story set during the years before WW2. Billy meets his cousin Kenneth who is devious and envious of Billy's strength home life. Where will the rivalry end? The Wilson home becomes a minefield between the cousins as war rages in Europe. Look forward to reading more of this trilogy.
April 27, 2019
Absolutely loved this book. It’s so well written that I found myself getting angry/sad/optimistic and when a book does that you know it’s a “good ‘un”
I haven’t read the others in this series but I thoroughly enjoyed it on its own - have ordered the others immediately!
I haven’t read the others in this series but I thoroughly enjoyed it on its own - have ordered the others immediately!
July 29, 2019
Interesting read
I found the story written from Billy's point of view to be unique & thought provoking. I think we sometimes forget that children don't interpret events the same as adults, and we must be mindful of that. Looking forward to next book.
I found the story written from Billy's point of view to be unique & thought provoking. I think we sometimes forget that children don't interpret events the same as adults, and we must be mindful of that. Looking forward to next book.
February 28, 2026
I liked the main character, Billie, but found the cousin and 2 sets of parents very hard to take. Cousin Kenneth and Uncle Frank were both abusive while the other 3 were too enthralled by Kenneth's fake persona.
Not my style of book
Not my style of book
October 29, 2018
This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
"The detail of research seems to be immaculate, and the characters and events very believable. "
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
"The detail of research seems to be immaculate, and the characters and events very believable. "
September 9, 2022
Authentic
Masterful story-telling through the mind and immature perceptions of a little boy. My own childhood thinking came back in spades through these pages.
Masterful story-telling through the mind and immature perceptions of a little boy. My own childhood thinking came back in spades through these pages.
September 13, 2022
Excellent story about living in the UK during world war 2 from the eyes of a young boy Billy. Looking forward to reading book 2.
October 22, 2014
The novel is the first part of a trilogy: A Relative Invasion.
In Intrusion war is coming to Europe. Billy is five at the beginning of the novel, trying to make sense of the world around him, but it’s not only the invasion of a bullying world power he has to worry about; there is his cousin, Kenneth.
Billy’s mother likes things quiet. Even one child is too much for her. Billy isn’t small and delicate like his cousin Kenneth, though Kenneth’s a year older. Neither does Billy know how to do angelic smiles or sing or draw. Amongst the adult relatives, he’s at a disadvantage from the moment Kenneth walks through the door.
Kenneth has pale skin and golden curls, long eyelashes like a camel – “Displays calm, the camel,” says Dad. “But they can turn nasty.”
Kenneth’s a sneaky bully.
“Isn’t he sweet?” the adults say, whilst Billy’s wrists hurt from the Chinese burns, and his toys lay broken upstairs. But if he tries to tell anyone, Kenneth’s father Frank will come down on him like a ton of bricks.
“Now, Kenneth, my lad, your uncle is my younger brother. You can remember that if Billy gets uppity.” While Billy’s dad’s away, Frank decides to toughen Billy up.
He’s forced to do knees bend, stretch ups and running on the spot; arm wrestles, fisticuffs and is made to try and escape from heavy holds. Kenneth is too delicate for these things. He is allowed to draw instead. Billy’s dad is afraid of his older brother and Billy is quickly learning his place.
Each chapter begins with a snippet of news headlines beginning about a year before the start of the war. The headlines announce unrest in the world. War is coming and there’s a strong sense of impending disaster which everyone would rather ignore. Billy only catches the edges of conversations, nobody will explain anything to him. ‘The doom voice came on, “Radio 2LO. London calling.”’
Mother’s young brother, the happy-go-lucky Uncle Ted, has got his uniform and goes off to training camp.
Mother and Billy have to get gas masks. Mother doesn’t want to bring a child into a world of War but Billy enjoys the drills and war games at school.
Billy’s developed a stutter, something Kenneth and Uncle Frank tease him about. But Billy thinks of his secret, a sabre owned by Mr Durban, which he’s been allowed to hold. Mr Durban has told him the story of the sabre. He imagines it in his hands when things make him feel bad, and then everything feels better and he becomes powerful. He only has to picture the sabre when Kenneth’s around.
Mother is aloof and doesn’t know how to show affection. She mustn’t ‘spoil’ him. She constantly lets Billy know how much trouble boys are, but he didn’t expect to be sent away from home. He gets a pat on the shoulder from Dad before he leaves.
Billy’s surprised to find that he’s nearly as big as his foster-mother. Mrs Youldon has two tiny children of her own and an evacuee already but she’s kind and takes Billy in. There’s hardly any food and mother would never approve of the dirt but Billy is happy and feels appreciated there.
When he’s brought back from evacuation, he finds Kenneth’s presence is insinuated even more deeply into his private life. Kenneth now goes to the same school and he’s even taken over Billy’s old friends.
Intrusion paints a convincing picture of a child’s helplessness within his own life. Billy is without guile and has none of the outward charm of Kenneth. Most of the adults take him at face value and can’t, or won’t, see beneath the stutter and awkwardness.
It’s Mr Durban who takes the time to understand Billy, and Mrs Youldon ‘seemed pleased to have big useful boys’. During evacuation Billy gains some self-confidence for the first time in his life. Everything at home seems to come with conditions attached and he has to try harder and harder to be appreciated.
I was shocked when the novel ended, in a good way because I wanted to carry on reading. Billy had just been collected by another foster parent, a farmer, for his second spell of evacuation after the bombs started raining on London. This time Kenneth goes too, but he is lucky enough to be able to stay in a billet with his mother. Once again Billy is on his own, watching with regret and trepidation as his mother and young sister are driven away to stay in the Vicar’s house again.
But as he climbs up on the trap with the cheerful farmer, it seems as if things are going to work out well and I want to know how the next section of his life’s going to pan out, but it stops there!
Rosalind Minnet handles the nuances of a child’s thinking excellently and with great subtlety. Billy is well-drawn and believable. Her characterisation in general is spot-on and it never falters from character to character. I’d highly recommend this novel and look forward to reading the next one in the series.
In Intrusion war is coming to Europe. Billy is five at the beginning of the novel, trying to make sense of the world around him, but it’s not only the invasion of a bullying world power he has to worry about; there is his cousin, Kenneth.
Billy’s mother likes things quiet. Even one child is too much for her. Billy isn’t small and delicate like his cousin Kenneth, though Kenneth’s a year older. Neither does Billy know how to do angelic smiles or sing or draw. Amongst the adult relatives, he’s at a disadvantage from the moment Kenneth walks through the door.
Kenneth has pale skin and golden curls, long eyelashes like a camel – “Displays calm, the camel,” says Dad. “But they can turn nasty.”
Kenneth’s a sneaky bully.
“Isn’t he sweet?” the adults say, whilst Billy’s wrists hurt from the Chinese burns, and his toys lay broken upstairs. But if he tries to tell anyone, Kenneth’s father Frank will come down on him like a ton of bricks.
“Now, Kenneth, my lad, your uncle is my younger brother. You can remember that if Billy gets uppity.” While Billy’s dad’s away, Frank decides to toughen Billy up.
He’s forced to do knees bend, stretch ups and running on the spot; arm wrestles, fisticuffs and is made to try and escape from heavy holds. Kenneth is too delicate for these things. He is allowed to draw instead. Billy’s dad is afraid of his older brother and Billy is quickly learning his place.
Each chapter begins with a snippet of news headlines beginning about a year before the start of the war. The headlines announce unrest in the world. War is coming and there’s a strong sense of impending disaster which everyone would rather ignore. Billy only catches the edges of conversations, nobody will explain anything to him. ‘The doom voice came on, “Radio 2LO. London calling.”’
Mother’s young brother, the happy-go-lucky Uncle Ted, has got his uniform and goes off to training camp.
Mother and Billy have to get gas masks. Mother doesn’t want to bring a child into a world of War but Billy enjoys the drills and war games at school.
Billy’s developed a stutter, something Kenneth and Uncle Frank tease him about. But Billy thinks of his secret, a sabre owned by Mr Durban, which he’s been allowed to hold. Mr Durban has told him the story of the sabre. He imagines it in his hands when things make him feel bad, and then everything feels better and he becomes powerful. He only has to picture the sabre when Kenneth’s around.
Mother is aloof and doesn’t know how to show affection. She mustn’t ‘spoil’ him. She constantly lets Billy know how much trouble boys are, but he didn’t expect to be sent away from home. He gets a pat on the shoulder from Dad before he leaves.
Billy’s surprised to find that he’s nearly as big as his foster-mother. Mrs Youldon has two tiny children of her own and an evacuee already but she’s kind and takes Billy in. There’s hardly any food and mother would never approve of the dirt but Billy is happy and feels appreciated there.
When he’s brought back from evacuation, he finds Kenneth’s presence is insinuated even more deeply into his private life. Kenneth now goes to the same school and he’s even taken over Billy’s old friends.
Intrusion paints a convincing picture of a child’s helplessness within his own life. Billy is without guile and has none of the outward charm of Kenneth. Most of the adults take him at face value and can’t, or won’t, see beneath the stutter and awkwardness.
It’s Mr Durban who takes the time to understand Billy, and Mrs Youldon ‘seemed pleased to have big useful boys’. During evacuation Billy gains some self-confidence for the first time in his life. Everything at home seems to come with conditions attached and he has to try harder and harder to be appreciated.
I was shocked when the novel ended, in a good way because I wanted to carry on reading. Billy had just been collected by another foster parent, a farmer, for his second spell of evacuation after the bombs started raining on London. This time Kenneth goes too, but he is lucky enough to be able to stay in a billet with his mother. Once again Billy is on his own, watching with regret and trepidation as his mother and young sister are driven away to stay in the Vicar’s house again.
But as he climbs up on the trap with the cheerful farmer, it seems as if things are going to work out well and I want to know how the next section of his life’s going to pan out, but it stops there!
Rosalind Minnet handles the nuances of a child’s thinking excellently and with great subtlety. Billy is well-drawn and believable. Her characterisation in general is spot-on and it never falters from character to character. I’d highly recommend this novel and look forward to reading the next one in the series.
October 28, 2016
From The Musings of a Starving Author:
My literary foodies, it has been too long, hasn’t it? But I, your Starving Reviewer, am back in the saddle with some long stalled reviews for your culinary pleasure. Today’s dish takes a classic recipe of historical drama from a tense period of world history, but adds the interesting twist of setting the table for a young child. Will this new perspective on history prove to be tasty or bland?
Before we find out, let’s blow the dust off the Starving Review Creed:
1. I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
2. I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible
I will say that it’s nice to get back to the pantry to find something a bit on the different side like Intrusion. What makes it different and what makes it good? Well, the difference is two-fold here. First, the majority of World War II-era works are focused on the war itself. It’s certainly a worthwhile thing to focus on, but this meal writes its recipe around the lead-up to the war and the early days.
While this means it isn’t big on overt action, the recipe is still rife with dramatic tension. It’s that unique tension born of anticipation and anxiety and that’s a setting that deserves to be explored. That tension walks hand-in-hand with the second noteworthy difference between other war-time dramas: the point of view characters.
Well, I’ve already noted this above, but Intrusion is told from the eyes of a child, a young British boy to be precise. It is a unique perspective to look at the war from, especially at the hands of a chef that can properly serve up that perspective. We can have that special mix of innocence, ignorance, imagination, and surprising insights that can only come from the mind of a child.
Fortunately, this chef is up to the challenge and pulls it off with aplomb. The characterization is what truly drives this recipe and gives it spice. While history does push the events onward, there is understandably less direct agency from the main characters themselves.
That leads to what I’d consider the only real flaw of the recipe and that is the at-times glacial pacing. It makes sense for it to be that way. In a starkly realistic look at this era from this perspective, there is only so fast the meal can be cooked. Still, there is little bits of fat that could be trimmed from time to time that could make it move a little quicker. This is a minor complaint though, to be fair, and I wouldn’t it let it stop you from grabbing a plate if this catches your fancy.
And I suppose that already lets you know what my wrap-up will sound like. Intrusion is a fascinatingly tasty bit of historical drama from a child’s perspective, with its only flaw being a sludgy pace. If you want to read an interesting take on WWII dramas or have a love for historical drama in general, I’d wholeheartedly suggest giving this a read. If your usual fare is slanted towards action-adventure pieces or thrillers, you might be put off by the slow pace but you may still be interested in picking it up.
FINAL VERDICT: **** (A tasty bit of historical drama from a child’s perspective, with its only flaw being a sludgy pace!)
My literary foodies, it has been too long, hasn’t it? But I, your Starving Reviewer, am back in the saddle with some long stalled reviews for your culinary pleasure. Today’s dish takes a classic recipe of historical drama from a tense period of world history, but adds the interesting twist of setting the table for a young child. Will this new perspective on history prove to be tasty or bland?
Before we find out, let’s blow the dust off the Starving Review Creed:
1. I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
2. I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible
I will say that it’s nice to get back to the pantry to find something a bit on the different side like Intrusion. What makes it different and what makes it good? Well, the difference is two-fold here. First, the majority of World War II-era works are focused on the war itself. It’s certainly a worthwhile thing to focus on, but this meal writes its recipe around the lead-up to the war and the early days.
While this means it isn’t big on overt action, the recipe is still rife with dramatic tension. It’s that unique tension born of anticipation and anxiety and that’s a setting that deserves to be explored. That tension walks hand-in-hand with the second noteworthy difference between other war-time dramas: the point of view characters.
Well, I’ve already noted this above, but Intrusion is told from the eyes of a child, a young British boy to be precise. It is a unique perspective to look at the war from, especially at the hands of a chef that can properly serve up that perspective. We can have that special mix of innocence, ignorance, imagination, and surprising insights that can only come from the mind of a child.
Fortunately, this chef is up to the challenge and pulls it off with aplomb. The characterization is what truly drives this recipe and gives it spice. While history does push the events onward, there is understandably less direct agency from the main characters themselves.
That leads to what I’d consider the only real flaw of the recipe and that is the at-times glacial pacing. It makes sense for it to be that way. In a starkly realistic look at this era from this perspective, there is only so fast the meal can be cooked. Still, there is little bits of fat that could be trimmed from time to time that could make it move a little quicker. This is a minor complaint though, to be fair, and I wouldn’t it let it stop you from grabbing a plate if this catches your fancy.
And I suppose that already lets you know what my wrap-up will sound like. Intrusion is a fascinatingly tasty bit of historical drama from a child’s perspective, with its only flaw being a sludgy pace. If you want to read an interesting take on WWII dramas or have a love for historical drama in general, I’d wholeheartedly suggest giving this a read. If your usual fare is slanted towards action-adventure pieces or thrillers, you might be put off by the slow pace but you may still be interested in picking it up.
FINAL VERDICT: **** (A tasty bit of historical drama from a child’s perspective, with its only flaw being a sludgy pace!)
October 14, 2015
This is a delightful addition to the ‘World War Two’ genre; sort of a cross between John Boorman’s movie Hope and Glory and Mark Twain’s The adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The whole book is told through the eyes of Billy, a small child – an achievement in itself. At the top of each chapter there is a date and a short epigraph, describing something seminal which happened in the war at that time. Billy’s life entwines with these larger events, of which he is largely ignorant. We the readers, however, are informed where we are in the story of the war via the snippets. Within this goodly framework Billy tells us the story of his boyhood between 1937 and 1941.
Minett has created a most sympathetic character in Billy. Despite being the child of reasonably affluent parents his childhood is harder than it should be. On top of that hardship is plonked an unwelcome cousin who is one of the more monstrous character creations I have come across in recent years (kudos to Minett!).
Minett’s research is very good. I have enjoyed material released into the public domain from the Mass Observation Unit, and this book resonates as being factually bang on. Indeed, I can only wonder at where she has fettled such delightful touches as what cakes were baked for tea.
That Billy’s viewpoint is consistently interesting – nay, gripping – is a tribute to the accomplished prose created by Minett. I have used a child narrator in a novella of my own, and was glad when I could elide a few years and revisit him as a teenager! I know it is not easy creating a story, pace and tension, through the eyes of a small child. In this particular instance I don’t think the vocabulary is child-like and the story is anything but facile; however the illusion is created and maintained of an ambience and existence which is consistently and believably that of a young boy. And Billy grows (through four years during the course of this first book in the series) in stature and in mind.
The novel isn’t about any one particular event. There is no denouement. Rather, the book flows along at an excellent pace on its own tide, within which larger and smaller waves lift the content to new heights and drop it gently down again. There is a shameless hook (and why not!) at the end of this first book of three, in place of a conclusion.
This is a book which I, as an adult interested in history generally and the Second World War in particular, enjoyed very much. One of its strengths is that if you have children to whom you want to give a good grounding in what that war was like on the Home Front, this book (and doubtless the other two in the trilogy) will certainly do the job while providing a pleasurable reading experience whether the child is reading on their own, or with you.
There were a few minor infelicities of typography and continuity in the version of the book which was provided to me.
Minett has created a most sympathetic character in Billy. Despite being the child of reasonably affluent parents his childhood is harder than it should be. On top of that hardship is plonked an unwelcome cousin who is one of the more monstrous character creations I have come across in recent years (kudos to Minett!).
Minett’s research is very good. I have enjoyed material released into the public domain from the Mass Observation Unit, and this book resonates as being factually bang on. Indeed, I can only wonder at where she has fettled such delightful touches as what cakes were baked for tea.
That Billy’s viewpoint is consistently interesting – nay, gripping – is a tribute to the accomplished prose created by Minett. I have used a child narrator in a novella of my own, and was glad when I could elide a few years and revisit him as a teenager! I know it is not easy creating a story, pace and tension, through the eyes of a small child. In this particular instance I don’t think the vocabulary is child-like and the story is anything but facile; however the illusion is created and maintained of an ambience and existence which is consistently and believably that of a young boy. And Billy grows (through four years during the course of this first book in the series) in stature and in mind.
The novel isn’t about any one particular event. There is no denouement. Rather, the book flows along at an excellent pace on its own tide, within which larger and smaller waves lift the content to new heights and drop it gently down again. There is a shameless hook (and why not!) at the end of this first book of three, in place of a conclusion.
This is a book which I, as an adult interested in history generally and the Second World War in particular, enjoyed very much. One of its strengths is that if you have children to whom you want to give a good grounding in what that war was like on the Home Front, this book (and doubtless the other two in the trilogy) will certainly do the job while providing a pleasurable reading experience whether the child is reading on their own, or with you.
There were a few minor infelicities of typography and continuity in the version of the book which was provided to me.
April 14, 2015
From almost the very beginning of this book. I loathed one character and absolutely hated another. But as the story progresses, I can understand the reasons for these characters actions. Though I don't have to like them.
This is an engaging book. The story is told from the perspective of a 5-year-old boy. His parents are, at best, indifferent. His mother seems put out by the fact that she has to care for him. They don't tell him anything significant about what is happening in their lives, maybe believing that he is too young to understand, but I think he is a bright boy and would understand perfectly with some explanation.
The effects of war on adults is totally different from the effects on a child. He doesn't understand the seriousness of the situation and no one will explain it to him except his cousin who is full of malice.
The only people who actually talk to him, with some idea of telling the truth, are his Grandfather and His father's co-worker Mr. Durban. Through Mr. Durban, and his daughter, Billy finds his "talisman" something to think about when he is scared or just needs a bit of courage.
I really liked the characters in this book, they were flawed people. Real people with the everyday foibles you run into. The author has done the research it takes to write this kind of novel. The backdrop of WWII seems very real to me and I felt for the family when they were huddled in their basement listening to the world above crashing under the weight of bombs. This story brings to light the realities of that war. Many people today just don't think about the atrocities that Hitler's Germany committed. The evacuation alone would be devastating to a young child. I can not imagine how terrible it all was. The only reference in a book that I remember is the Narnia books, and that was just fantasy.
I look forward to reading the next part to see what happens to Billy and all his family.
I highly recommend this book, as it is masterfully written. It makes you stop and think how good we actually have things.
This is an engaging book. The story is told from the perspective of a 5-year-old boy. His parents are, at best, indifferent. His mother seems put out by the fact that she has to care for him. They don't tell him anything significant about what is happening in their lives, maybe believing that he is too young to understand, but I think he is a bright boy and would understand perfectly with some explanation.
The effects of war on adults is totally different from the effects on a child. He doesn't understand the seriousness of the situation and no one will explain it to him except his cousin who is full of malice.
The only people who actually talk to him, with some idea of telling the truth, are his Grandfather and His father's co-worker Mr. Durban. Through Mr. Durban, and his daughter, Billy finds his "talisman" something to think about when he is scared or just needs a bit of courage.
I really liked the characters in this book, they were flawed people. Real people with the everyday foibles you run into. The author has done the research it takes to write this kind of novel. The backdrop of WWII seems very real to me and I felt for the family when they were huddled in their basement listening to the world above crashing under the weight of bombs. This story brings to light the realities of that war. Many people today just don't think about the atrocities that Hitler's Germany committed. The evacuation alone would be devastating to a young child. I can not imagine how terrible it all was. The only reference in a book that I remember is the Narnia books, and that was just fantasy.
I look forward to reading the next part to see what happens to Billy and all his family.
I highly recommend this book, as it is masterfully written. It makes you stop and think how good we actually have things.
November 24, 2014
A Relative Invasion - Intrusion tells the story of Billy, a little boy growing up during World War II. It’s beautifully observed, full of humour and stand-out characters. Minett is particularly talented in using the child’s perspective to understand her adult characters.
As the war comes closer to home, Billy’s life is disrupted by his visiting cousin Kenneth. Kenneth is a wonderful villain – the character I enjoyed most, despite feeling some guilt. Kenneth is a handsome, evil little chap who wheedles his way into Billy’s toy box, bedroom and life. Although my sympathies were always with sweet, stuttering Billy, Kenneth is so cleverly, subtly horrible, he’s irresistible. Everything for Billy is frustrating, unfair and unsayable. For Kenneth, it’s easy and natural.
Intrusion has the pace of a gentler story, providing scope to explore Billy’s character and his family properly but never feels slow. There are plenty of points of intrigue and mystery, not least the neighbour’s sword.
Until Billy’s war gives him the temporary freedom of evacuation, there’s unrelenting oppression. Billy is trapped by his inability to talk about the ways he’s wronged by Kenneth, and likewise his family is stuck in their stifling class-bound habits. Billy’s parents are darkly comic, and much of the humour comes from Billy’s father dealing with the son he doesn’t quite know what to do with.
Some of the story has a menacing quality, something just off the page, which hints at darker things to come for Billy. War is a constant threat, but so is growing up and finding a voice of your own.
I’ve loved this book for some time, and recommend it very highly.
As the war comes closer to home, Billy’s life is disrupted by his visiting cousin Kenneth. Kenneth is a wonderful villain – the character I enjoyed most, despite feeling some guilt. Kenneth is a handsome, evil little chap who wheedles his way into Billy’s toy box, bedroom and life. Although my sympathies were always with sweet, stuttering Billy, Kenneth is so cleverly, subtly horrible, he’s irresistible. Everything for Billy is frustrating, unfair and unsayable. For Kenneth, it’s easy and natural.
Intrusion has the pace of a gentler story, providing scope to explore Billy’s character and his family properly but never feels slow. There are plenty of points of intrigue and mystery, not least the neighbour’s sword.
Until Billy’s war gives him the temporary freedom of evacuation, there’s unrelenting oppression. Billy is trapped by his inability to talk about the ways he’s wronged by Kenneth, and likewise his family is stuck in their stifling class-bound habits. Billy’s parents are darkly comic, and much of the humour comes from Billy’s father dealing with the son he doesn’t quite know what to do with.
Some of the story has a menacing quality, something just off the page, which hints at darker things to come for Billy. War is a constant threat, but so is growing up and finding a voice of your own.
I’ve loved this book for some time, and recommend it very highly.
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