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Pen Pals
Brenda Arkwright has been the Managing
Director of Murgatroyd Pens for much of her
working life. She is popular, personable and
competent. But Brenda has secrets.
When Jean Murgatroyd passes away in a
nursing home in the northern industrial town
of her birth, old wounds are re-opened. Events
from Brenda’s past, inextricably intertwined
with the Murgatroyd family, are coming back
to haunt her. Simultaneously, Jean’s difficult,
estranged son James seeks to regain control of
the family business.
Jean leaves a beautiful monogrammed pen to
Brenda’s daughter, one of only two that were
ever made. The person in possession of the other
was a mystery to everybody but Brenda and
Jean, but that person may now hold the future
of Murgatroyds in their hands...
Director of Murgatroyd Pens for much of her
working life. She is popular, personable and
competent. But Brenda has secrets.
When Jean Murgatroyd passes away in a
nursing home in the northern industrial town
of her birth, old wounds are re-opened. Events
from Brenda’s past, inextricably intertwined
with the Murgatroyd family, are coming back
to haunt her. Simultaneously, Jean’s difficult,
estranged son James seeks to regain control of
the family business.
Jean leaves a beautiful monogrammed pen to
Brenda’s daughter, one of only two that were
ever made. The person in possession of the other
was a mystery to everybody but Brenda and
Jean, but that person may now hold the future
of Murgatroyds in their hands...
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 20, 2016
10 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Martin Gore
3 books5 followersI am an Accountant by background, who semi-retired to explore my love of creative writing. In my career I held Board level jobs for over twenty five years, in private, public and third sector organisations. I was born in Coventry, a city then dominated by the car industry and high volume manufacturing. Jaguar, Triumph, Talbot, Rolls Royce, Courtaulds, Massey Ferguson were the major employers, to name but a few.
When I was nine year’s old I told my long suffering mother that as I liked English composition and drama I was going to be a Playwright. She told me that I should work hard at school and get a proper job. She was right of course.
I started as an Office Junior at Jaguar in 1973 at eleven pounds sixty four a week. I thus grew up in the strike torn, class divided seventies. Notably in the 1974 miners strike we were hit by the three day week and worked with lighting from a generator. The Jaguar factory which employed thousands of people in Coventry is now a building site, and the office in the Triumph factory to which I later transferred is now a MacDonald’s.
I have lived in the midlands, the south of England, and now in rural East Yorkshire with Sandra, my wife of thirty six years. I suppose that as such I have a reasonable perspective on our current difficulties as a nation. I take the view that our current austerity is a consequence of our collective failings in the past rather than a policy, and that the lessons of our history shouldn't be lost.
We should have less class division in our country, which although less of a factor today still exists in too many areas of life. I think it is fair to say that my own journey from Office Junior to Boardroom could not have happened in my father’s generation, so with every generation we seem to make progress.
But in the seventies I also saw at first hand the damage done by politically driven Trade Unions and ineffectual class ridden management. This division wiped out much of UK manufacturing which is in my view the root cause of the austerity we know today. I thought it important to capture this in a fiction novel, and Pen Pals is the result.
The opportunity to rekindle my interest in writing came in 2009, when I wrote my first pantomime, Cinderella, for my home group, the Walkington Pantomime Players. I have now written eight. I love theatre, particularly musical theatre, and completed the Hull Truck Theatre Playwrite course in 2010. My first play, a comedy called He's Behind You, had its first highly successful showing in January 2016, so I intend to move forward in all three creative areas.
I’m an old fashioned writer I guess. I want you to laugh and to cry. I want you to feel that my stories have a beginning, a middle, and a satisfactory ending. When I write I seem to disappear into another world, and become completely self absorbed. It’s a great feeling.
When I was nine year’s old I told my long suffering mother that as I liked English composition and drama I was going to be a Playwright. She told me that I should work hard at school and get a proper job. She was right of course.
I started as an Office Junior at Jaguar in 1973 at eleven pounds sixty four a week. I thus grew up in the strike torn, class divided seventies. Notably in the 1974 miners strike we were hit by the three day week and worked with lighting from a generator. The Jaguar factory which employed thousands of people in Coventry is now a building site, and the office in the Triumph factory to which I later transferred is now a MacDonald’s.
I have lived in the midlands, the south of England, and now in rural East Yorkshire with Sandra, my wife of thirty six years. I suppose that as such I have a reasonable perspective on our current difficulties as a nation. I take the view that our current austerity is a consequence of our collective failings in the past rather than a policy, and that the lessons of our history shouldn't be lost.
We should have less class division in our country, which although less of a factor today still exists in too many areas of life. I think it is fair to say that my own journey from Office Junior to Boardroom could not have happened in my father’s generation, so with every generation we seem to make progress.
But in the seventies I also saw at first hand the damage done by politically driven Trade Unions and ineffectual class ridden management. This division wiped out much of UK manufacturing which is in my view the root cause of the austerity we know today. I thought it important to capture this in a fiction novel, and Pen Pals is the result.
The opportunity to rekindle my interest in writing came in 2009, when I wrote my first pantomime, Cinderella, for my home group, the Walkington Pantomime Players. I have now written eight. I love theatre, particularly musical theatre, and completed the Hull Truck Theatre Playwrite course in 2010. My first play, a comedy called He's Behind You, had its first highly successful showing in January 2016, so I intend to move forward in all three creative areas.
I’m an old fashioned writer I guess. I want you to laugh and to cry. I want you to feel that my stories have a beginning, a middle, and a satisfactory ending. When I write I seem to disappear into another world, and become completely self absorbed. It’s a great feeling.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 5, 2016
Murgatroyd Pens has long stood as the main employer in the small northern town in which is stands. The name is synonymous with quality and alongside matriarch Jean Murgatroyd, Managing Director Brenda Arkwright has fought long and hard to keep the company in business, the interests of the business and the town the driving factor behind every decision made.
When Jean Murgatroyd passes away, it leaves the future of the factory in jeopardy. Jean had been estranged from her son James following an argument back in the 1970s, and had made little attempt to see his mother before she died. James now works for American rival IPCO and Brenda fears that his return, and Jean’s will, may well spell the end of Murgatroyd Pens and the town.
Jean leaves a monogrammed fountain pen to Brenda’s daughter, one of only two in existence and Brenda knows that the time has come to face up to the past. Only Brenda and Jean know the name of the person who holds the second pen, and revealing their identity may well threaten everything that Brenda holds dear. As Brenda has a secret, one which she has never told anyone, not even her daughter, and talking about it now opens up some old wounds which Brenda knows will never truly heal. And when Jean’s will is finally read, Brenda realises that this mystery person holds the key to the future of Murgartroyd’s, a fate she may well have sealed some thirty years earlier.
‘Pen Pals’ is s really interesting story. Set in a typical northern industrial town, at the heart of the novel is the strong Murgatroyd family, dominated by patriarch Bill and his wife Jean. All of the key characters are touched by the Murgatroyds in some way, from old school friendships, to overwhelming love, for both the family and the business. It is a saga in the old fashioned sense but it works wonderfully well.
Set in both the 1970’s and the year 2000, the action starts with the death of Jean Murgatroyd and the revelation by Brenda that she has something she needs to tell her daughter. As she begins to tell her story, the action moves back in time to the early days and the founding of Murgatroyd’s by William Murgatroyd, through to his successor, his son, Bill Murgatroyd. Each generational story is told clearly and fluently, capturing the spirit of the time, from post war era in which the company is founded, to the union dominated 70’s in which most of the earlier action takes place. A good proportion of this is after Bill’s death in 1974, the point at which James sets to make his name in the business.
The constant battle between James and the Union is very believable. I am not (thankfully) old enough to remember this period of pre Thatcher history, when strikes first became a regular occurrence to settle worker disputes, and yet the sense of the constant walk out, and the impact it had upon industry rings very true. With money hungry bosses, and regimented workers, the scene is set for conflict and James’ character is such that this is guaranteed. An overwhelming sense of privilege and entitlement as well as a blinding need to prove he is better than his father, this all comes across in the portrayal of his character.
The characters are all well rounded, their flaws shining through as well as their strengths. The story creates a real sense of setting both in time and place. The sense of community typical in Northern towns at this time, the strong sense of family and the stubbornness of the two male Murgatroyd’s leading to an almost inevitable conclusion.
The twist in the tale? Well that is Brenda’s secret and not one I will reveal here. It becomes clear very early on in the book, although it is not revealed until much later the impact this will have on the future of the company or even Brenda and her daughter.
The characters of Jean and Brenda were both very likeable; dominant, charismatic women with a clear love for the company. James is flawed, but no less interesting. Even union man Derek Dawson, as militant as he is in his actions, is a character that you can warm to. I’d probably want to throttle him if he had worked for me, but then I always feel that way near old school union Reps so it shows that the character is written well.
The story is told from a third party point of view, following the main characters as they navigate their day to day, as well as allowing the reader to dip into some more of the past, setting the scene for more recent events. It was a welcome change of pace for me having read a lot of crime and thriller novels of late. It was no less compelling or engaging, the pace reflective of the setting, and I ate it up in a day. Overall, it is an enjoyable trip into the not so distant past. If you like a good family saga set in a good old English town, I would urge you to give this a go.
A very enjoyable 4 stars.
My thanks to author Martin Gore for the copy of ‘Pen Pals’ in exchange for my honest review.
When Jean Murgatroyd passes away, it leaves the future of the factory in jeopardy. Jean had been estranged from her son James following an argument back in the 1970s, and had made little attempt to see his mother before she died. James now works for American rival IPCO and Brenda fears that his return, and Jean’s will, may well spell the end of Murgatroyd Pens and the town.
Jean leaves a monogrammed fountain pen to Brenda’s daughter, one of only two in existence and Brenda knows that the time has come to face up to the past. Only Brenda and Jean know the name of the person who holds the second pen, and revealing their identity may well threaten everything that Brenda holds dear. As Brenda has a secret, one which she has never told anyone, not even her daughter, and talking about it now opens up some old wounds which Brenda knows will never truly heal. And when Jean’s will is finally read, Brenda realises that this mystery person holds the key to the future of Murgartroyd’s, a fate she may well have sealed some thirty years earlier.
‘Pen Pals’ is s really interesting story. Set in a typical northern industrial town, at the heart of the novel is the strong Murgatroyd family, dominated by patriarch Bill and his wife Jean. All of the key characters are touched by the Murgatroyds in some way, from old school friendships, to overwhelming love, for both the family and the business. It is a saga in the old fashioned sense but it works wonderfully well.
Set in both the 1970’s and the year 2000, the action starts with the death of Jean Murgatroyd and the revelation by Brenda that she has something she needs to tell her daughter. As she begins to tell her story, the action moves back in time to the early days and the founding of Murgatroyd’s by William Murgatroyd, through to his successor, his son, Bill Murgatroyd. Each generational story is told clearly and fluently, capturing the spirit of the time, from post war era in which the company is founded, to the union dominated 70’s in which most of the earlier action takes place. A good proportion of this is after Bill’s death in 1974, the point at which James sets to make his name in the business.
The constant battle between James and the Union is very believable. I am not (thankfully) old enough to remember this period of pre Thatcher history, when strikes first became a regular occurrence to settle worker disputes, and yet the sense of the constant walk out, and the impact it had upon industry rings very true. With money hungry bosses, and regimented workers, the scene is set for conflict and James’ character is such that this is guaranteed. An overwhelming sense of privilege and entitlement as well as a blinding need to prove he is better than his father, this all comes across in the portrayal of his character.
The characters are all well rounded, their flaws shining through as well as their strengths. The story creates a real sense of setting both in time and place. The sense of community typical in Northern towns at this time, the strong sense of family and the stubbornness of the two male Murgatroyd’s leading to an almost inevitable conclusion.
The twist in the tale? Well that is Brenda’s secret and not one I will reveal here. It becomes clear very early on in the book, although it is not revealed until much later the impact this will have on the future of the company or even Brenda and her daughter.
The characters of Jean and Brenda were both very likeable; dominant, charismatic women with a clear love for the company. James is flawed, but no less interesting. Even union man Derek Dawson, as militant as he is in his actions, is a character that you can warm to. I’d probably want to throttle him if he had worked for me, but then I always feel that way near old school union Reps so it shows that the character is written well.
The story is told from a third party point of view, following the main characters as they navigate their day to day, as well as allowing the reader to dip into some more of the past, setting the scene for more recent events. It was a welcome change of pace for me having read a lot of crime and thriller novels of late. It was no less compelling or engaging, the pace reflective of the setting, and I ate it up in a day. Overall, it is an enjoyable trip into the not so distant past. If you like a good family saga set in a good old English town, I would urge you to give this a go.
A very enjoyable 4 stars.
My thanks to author Martin Gore for the copy of ‘Pen Pals’ in exchange for my honest review.
September 4, 2016
What a treat this book was. I really enjoyed this epic family drama centred around a pen factory in a Yorkshire village. The story is told from a third person omniscient point of view which I found completely refreshing and enabled me to fully grasp the complexities of the intertwined relationships that were unfurled before my eyes.
This is unique storytelling that is from a time gone by. A thoroughly enjoyable read that will keep you gripped until the very end.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2018
This book gives a wonderful insight into the social, technological and political changes from 1916 through the eyes of the Murgatroyd family and their employees at the pen factory. Bill Murgatroyd is already dead and right at the beginning Jean Murgatroyd dies in a Nursing Home. The family business is then placed in the hands of Brenda who has contributed considerably to the business and encouraged entrepreneurs. Most impressive is how Jean & Brenda had wiped out the stench of capitalism and broken down the social barriers between "them and us." James, the headstrong, ambitious son puts power & revenge before family loyalties and wants to make the company multi-national. Brenda is eager to keep the community together. I was staggered to learn that 10 million days were lost in strikes in 1977 when the Trade Unions were killing the manufacturing base and then Thatcher came along, hated the power of the unions and now there's no industry left in the north. The characters were fleshed out well although I thought there would have been a good story in the Bill-Jean-Brenda era instead of skimming over it with narrative and retrospective anecdotes. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers.
June 7, 2017
I got my serving of an epic family saga by reading this book. I loved the pace and if there is one thing that I believe the author succeeds in with this one, is that he does not spill the beans or reveal the mystery behind what unfolds in the book. He leaves all this to the reader and it is a great feeling to be immersed in a story.
I got this off NetGalley and I am grateful to them, Troubador Publishing Limited and especially Martin Gore because I am looking forward to reading more of his books.
I got this off NetGalley and I am grateful to them, Troubador Publishing Limited and especially Martin Gore because I am looking forward to reading more of his books.
May 4, 2018
I really enjoyed this story with its main setting in the strike ridden 1970s. Like the author that was the decade in which I started work. The story is strong and the characters well drawn. It's a four star read. But I dropped a star because of many irritating proof reading and editing errors. In one case Murgatroyd was spelled incorrectly and in another its' was used. That's not English. Several more places where commas or conjunctions are missing. It was a netgalley read so maybe they have been corrected but it wan't listed as an unproofed copy.
June 23, 2020
A biography of a company and family
A very detailed accounting of the Murgatroyd Pen Company 's beginnings and the course of it's history and long ranged effects on future generations of family, friends, workers, and the town. At times it was a bit dry, but very interesting and different from stories I've read. Sad, and somewhat depressing to see dreams fall apart, but also some happy surprised to make it an enjoyable story.
A very detailed accounting of the Murgatroyd Pen Company 's beginnings and the course of it's history and long ranged effects on future generations of family, friends, workers, and the town. At times it was a bit dry, but very interesting and different from stories I've read. Sad, and somewhat depressing to see dreams fall apart, but also some happy surprised to make it an enjoyable story.
December 18, 2017
I am really glad that I have found and read this book. It is one of my favourite genres: family saga spanning several decades. To begin with I was a little surprised that the author prefers telling the story instead of showing, but I soon realised that it was a captivating story with very loveable characters and really interesting plot twists. So it was a really satisfying experience after all.
December 20, 2018
I'm not familiar with how business works in England, so I found this one fascinating. Family owned business saga. I am sure a similar story could be told about U.S. companies that are family owned! Good story.
I received a Kindle ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
I received a Kindle ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
February 2, 2019
I received this book free from Good Reads.
It was slow going to start with. All business but once the human side of things kicked in, it was a much easier read. It's very formal with use of full names, often. In some areas, a fair bit of repetition but overall, I enjoyed it.
It was slow going to start with. All business but once the human side of things kicked in, it was a much easier read. It's very formal with use of full names, often. In some areas, a fair bit of repetition but overall, I enjoyed it.
June 6, 2017
A wonderful family saga .This is a debut novel so well written so involving.
October 18, 2020
Great read
Loved this book. Fantastic characters in a strong plot. Twists and turns take the tale out of the ordinary everyday lives and keep the reader engaged.
Loved this book. Fantastic characters in a strong plot. Twists and turns take the tale out of the ordinary everyday lives and keep the reader engaged.
November 28, 2020
Enjoyable read
March 6, 2017
**A copy of this book has been generously provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Really, really, really loved the story the author told with this book. I truly enjoyed getting to know the Murgatroyd family with all their success and scandal. The characters were very believable and relatable, but one of the issues I had was that there were so many of them that I found it hard to keep track sometimes. Jumping back and forth between different points of views and different time periods was quite confusing and could have been broken up or separated differently in order to read easier. Also, the title really does not fit with the story at all which sort of bugs me because I think the title should reflect what the story is about.
Really, really, really loved the story the author told with this book. I truly enjoyed getting to know the Murgatroyd family with all their success and scandal. The characters were very believable and relatable, but one of the issues I had was that there were so many of them that I found it hard to keep track sometimes. Jumping back and forth between different points of views and different time periods was quite confusing and could have been broken up or separated differently in order to read easier. Also, the title really does not fit with the story at all which sort of bugs me because I think the title should reflect what the story is about.
January 23, 2017
4 and ½ Stars
This is a wonderful book and very well written. It is the saga of the Murgatroyd family with all its warts.
In the early 20th Century, two friends started a pen company; an unlikely setting which in this case works very well for the story. As the years pass, the personalities of the Murgatroyd family and its cohorts make up much of the story. They were an interesting lot and for many years things went smoothly. The business expanded and grew and was successful.
Then the sixties and seventies came and Murgatroyd’s was in trouble. I won’t spell out the details here – you’ll have to read the story for yourself.
In the year 2000 Jean Murgatroyd, the matriarch of the family passed away. Left behind her was dissension and pain.
At first I didn’t know what to make of the book. I had to think about it for a bit before I could write my review. I knew I liked it – a lot – but something was holding me back on giving it my full support. I guess I just had a hard time classifying it. Everything in my life seems to have to fit into a category. How frustrating that can be! I decided to just love the book for what it is and let the rest go.
As the old saying states, “What goes around, comes around.”
I very much look forward to reading more of Martin Gore’s novels and I do so hope he continues to write.
Thank you to Netgalley and Troubador Publishing Limited/Matador and Martin S. Gore for forwarding to me a copy of this most wonderful book to read.
This is a wonderful book and very well written. It is the saga of the Murgatroyd family with all its warts.
In the early 20th Century, two friends started a pen company; an unlikely setting which in this case works very well for the story. As the years pass, the personalities of the Murgatroyd family and its cohorts make up much of the story. They were an interesting lot and for many years things went smoothly. The business expanded and grew and was successful.
Then the sixties and seventies came and Murgatroyd’s was in trouble. I won’t spell out the details here – you’ll have to read the story for yourself.
In the year 2000 Jean Murgatroyd, the matriarch of the family passed away. Left behind her was dissension and pain.
At first I didn’t know what to make of the book. I had to think about it for a bit before I could write my review. I knew I liked it – a lot – but something was holding me back on giving it my full support. I guess I just had a hard time classifying it. Everything in my life seems to have to fit into a category. How frustrating that can be! I decided to just love the book for what it is and let the rest go.
As the old saying states, “What goes around, comes around.”
I very much look forward to reading more of Martin Gore’s novels and I do so hope he continues to write.
Thank you to Netgalley and Troubador Publishing Limited/Matador and Martin S. Gore for forwarding to me a copy of this most wonderful book to read.
February 6, 2017
This is a wonderful read, a saga set in a northern town with a mill at the heart of it, set in the 20th century and a worthy read.
The cast of characters include both management, staff and their extended families. A really good book to get your teeth into and as satisfying a read as anything by Catherine Cookson or Jeffrey Archer. I am astounded this is Martin Gore's debut novel and shall certainly be looking out for more from him.
If you enjoy a good British saga you won't go wrong with this one. A full five stars - easily!
I received an arc via Net Galley in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
The cast of characters include both management, staff and their extended families. A really good book to get your teeth into and as satisfying a read as anything by Catherine Cookson or Jeffrey Archer. I am astounded this is Martin Gore's debut novel and shall certainly be looking out for more from him.
If you enjoy a good British saga you won't go wrong with this one. A full five stars - easily!
I received an arc via Net Galley in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
October 12, 2016
This is a family saga in the unusual setting of a northern pen factory, Murgatroyd Pens. On the death of its owner, Jean Murgatroyd, the story of its inheritance unfolds. It is a story full of complex characters, conflicts and secrets.
The main events follow the history of the factory from the post war years through the 1970s and the instability resulting from union unrest. There are twists and turns on the way to its conclusion. A great read!
The main events follow the history of the factory from the post war years through the 1970s and the instability resulting from union unrest. There are twists and turns on the way to its conclusion. A great read!
October 14, 2016
The storyline wasn't bad actually.
The writing was pedestrian at best.
But, it was self-published, and clearly no budget was wasted on getting spelling, grammar, punctuation squared away. There's even a case of an edit that didn't get completed: "She said" moved from the beginning to the end of a sentence leaving a wreck of capitalization and punctuation.
Well, it was a freebie, and you get what you pay for. I should have learned this lesson by now.
The writing was pedestrian at best.
But, it was self-published, and clearly no budget was wasted on getting spelling, grammar, punctuation squared away. There's even a case of an edit that didn't get completed: "She said" moved from the beginning to the end of a sentence leaving a wreck of capitalization and punctuation.
Well, it was a freebie, and you get what you pay for. I should have learned this lesson by now.
October 22, 2016
This is a heart-warming story about coming to terms with past events and how those events impact on the present. Characters are strong and well-written. What the book lacks is punctuation, especially in dialogue. This makes it quite difficult to read in places. If somebody could just go through it putting in all the commas (and changing 'passed' to 'past') it would be a thoroughly recommendable sort of book.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews