The Black Thread

by Margaret Muir

THE BLACK THREAD is the dramatic story of a young woman’s desperate attempt to escape the clutches of her cruel father. Set, in 1895, against the dark backdrop of the Leeds/Liverpool Canal, intrigue and emotion combine in this unforgettable historical novel. Amy Dodd has never met her father but longs for the day he will return home. But when that day finally arrives, her nightmares begin. After the death of her mother, she alone suffers her father’s abuse. She knows that if she is to survive she must get as far away as possible from the man she fears. To escape, she takes the canal’s towing path in the hope he will not follow her. After being taken aboard a passing barge, Amy finds safety for a while, but after a chance encounter with a stranger, she is confronted with some shocking facts about her father. Compelled to learn more, she returns along the tow path to Leeds but in doing so steps back into the lion's den. With the help of a young engineer from the local mill, she seeks to uncover the distasteful truth that is hidden in her past. But there is no limit to Amos Dodd’s evil as he relentlessly pursues his daughter. “A well written story with mysterious twists and shocking turns that gives a feeling of factuality rather than fiction.” Jean Beven, CANAL CUTTINGS.

Genres: Historical Fiction

196 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed every single page of this book. Although it's not something I'd normally go for, I chose it as it was set in and around my hometown of Leeds, in West Yorkshire. Set in the later end of the 19th century wool trade in the city and on the Leeds/Liverpool canal.
The main character is Amy, a young girl living with her mother. Her father is a bit of a mystery, currently residing in Armley Prison. Whenever Amy asks her mother about her father, she's very vague, gives nothing away and changes the subject.
Amy dreams of a day when her father may return home and she can love him and be loved by him. Then, one day her dream comes true. He returns, He's not what she was expecting. Her mother seems to be frightened of him and is deeply unhappy that he's back. He quickly becomes aggressive towards Amy and her mother. He's violent and a drunk. He's lazy. Amy has to work in the local mill and hand her wages over to him so he can spend it in the local alehouse.
Then, one day, Amy comes home and finds her mother, Lisbeth is dead. She is heartbroken. It then dawns on her that she's now on her own with her father, Amos. He's abusive to her and treats her like his personal slave. Amy decides she has to get away from him. She plans and plots. She then runs away.
After a dangerous and exhausting trip up the tow path of the canal, she meets a lovely family who own a short boat. They take her in. She works on the canal with Joel, his wife Helen and their young son Ben.
Amos continues to hunt for his daughter. She's made a fool out of him and she's going to pay dearly when he finds her.
Amy does encounter her father again with unpleasant results.
I don't want to reveal any more of the storyline as it will spoil the book for anyone reading my review who may be wanting to read the book.
Rest assured, the author weaves a wonderful tale, with lots of twists and turns, some of which are very unexpected.
On reading this, I got a really good feel for life in the mill, life on the canal, life as a working-class Victorian citizen. There are so many interesting details included about life in this period.
I think that each character is well developed. I began to really feel for Amy and I felt her troubles.
My only gripe is that it ended too quickly. I'd have liked to see what happened to Amy after she received the letter at the end of the story and see where it went from there.
Overall though, I was happy reading this and unhappy when it ended.

[Christy Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just spent 20 minutes writing a review, and GoodReads ate it without publishing it when I tried to add HTML.

&*(^%$! <--- cuss words at GoodReads' navigation and interface.

However, I recommend The Black Thread, in the historical fiction genre. Set in 1890s Leeds, Yorkshire. Prose and plot appropriate for ages 12+, though it's not aimed at young adults. Blame GoodReads that I'm not recreating my review.

[Lori Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I got this book for free through one of her promotions quite a while back, and it's been sitting in my Kindle collecting dust. Now, I feel bad that it took me so long to get to it.

It is a story of a young girl named Amy Dodd living in England in the late 1800s. Amy had disillusion of grandeur about who and what her absentee father was, and when she found out the truth about the man, it nearly destroyed her. Luckily, she had the strength to change her situation and by the end of the story, you feel quite happy that her reality wasn't exactly her reality. On the negative side, I found the descriptions of the landscapes and scenes a bit wordy for my taste, and I caught myself skipping over a large amount of paragraphs just to get back to the story. I tend to be on the impatient side, so that's not a criticism of Ms. Muir's writing in the least, only of my personality. On the positive side, it was a really, really good story with a great plot twist. I read the book in one sitting and would recommend it to anyone as a rainy-day read. You'll find yourself rooting for poor Amy and cheering at the end.

[E.A. Harwik · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Black Thread by Margaret Muir is one of those gorgeously rare stories that keeps bubbling along with unfolding detail designed to capture and tease all who take pride at being able to visualise what will come next.

Set in Yorkshire just prior to the 20th century this book will engage the reader with beautiful descriptive local detail woven into a well timed fictional saga of deprivation, loss, escape, fear and discovery. Plus The Black Thread holds an extra treat via a very standard build-up to the usual happy-ever-after being interrupted and replaced with the most unexpected and grandly wonderful catch and capture imaginable. Simply marvellous; five stars.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a wonderful book!! Margaret Muir is a wonderful writer.....her book was spellbinding!! As I read the book I could see Amy and everything she went through as if it was a movie unfolding in front of me. I could see where she was so vividly. I could not literally put the book down. One of my favourite authors is Catherine Cookson (of which I have read about 2/3 of all the book she wrote) Margaret Muir's writing reminded me so much of those books.

If I could give this book a 6* out of 5* I would!!

A MUST read!!

[Delta]

Free 03-12-15 (historic fiction drama)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008NAFWSE?i...

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

2015 book challenge - book with a colour in title.

[Jo Notary]

she runs away, but she will recieve all his abuse, she is about to meet the father she never knew, after her mother's death, north of england in 1895, 194 pgs