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The Doorstep Child
A tale of hardship and survival, The Doorstep Child is a heart-rending story from bestselling author Annie Murray.From a tender age little Evie struggled . . . Evie spent her early years left outside on the step. With a drunk for a father and a neglectful mother, all little Evie has ever craved is a safe home and a normal existence. Her young eyes had seen so much but this never tainted her spirit. If it wasn't for her best friend Gary, and friendly dog called Whisky – Evie might never have made it to the sixteenth birthday.At sixteen she meets Ken, a sweet brown-eyed boy, not much older than she is. Perhaps her fortunes have changed? But no sooner does she give over her heart, she is betrayed, not for the first time in her young life . . .Will Evie ever find the love and warmth she's always craved?
529 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 6, 2017
51 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Annie Murray
51 books167 followersAnnie Murray was a ‘childhood writer.’ Her career was helped a great deal by belonging to Tindal Street Fiction Group in Birmingham and by winning the SHE/Granada TV Short Story Competition in 1991. She has published short stories in a number of anthologies as well as SHE magazine. Her first regional saga, Birmingham Rose appeared in 1995 and reached the Times bestseller list. She has since published more than a dozen others, including the ‘Cadbury books,’ Chocolate Girls and The Bells of Bournville Green, Family of Women and her latest, A Hopscotch Summer. Annie has four children and lives near Reading.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 22, 2018
I am one of those people who loves to browse in second hand bookshops, charity shops,carboot sales etc. If it has books I will be there and if it's one of those days when I can't get then I send one of my family members. Sounds like a great plan but no it was not.
Problem was I was ending up with books that I couldn't remember reading but I had read many times.
I kid you not I ended up with six editions of the same book once and it was getting to the point where my husband was commenting on how we must be saving on our heating with my wall to wall insulation of books. He loves me really or was that a story I read about. 😊
Here is my plan of making a list of books that I have read over the years and this is why I am starting to list books that I read some time ago.
1. Make a list.
2. Books that I have read a few times give to a local charity. My favourite at the moment is my local food bank which is something I thought I would never see in the UK. Mind you I will be standing at the door to wave goodbye with a tissue in my hand. They are my old friends after all.
3. Donate some books to my library as they are strapped for cash these days as well.
4. Move house with many rooms so my long suffering hubby isn't too aware of all my books.
My son tells me to go completely digital. I laughed so much I think I hurt his feelings.
There is just something special about a real book especially the older ones with their leather bindings and gold leaf around the edges. My idea of book heaven.
So back to this particular book that I read and loved with each page I turned. A wonderful story that had me reaching for my tissues and is now on my list.
Wonder if theirs a name for people who are addicted to reading books. Yes I just remembered the name is Shirley. 😇
Problem was I was ending up with books that I couldn't remember reading but I had read many times.
I kid you not I ended up with six editions of the same book once and it was getting to the point where my husband was commenting on how we must be saving on our heating with my wall to wall insulation of books. He loves me really or was that a story I read about. 😊
Here is my plan of making a list of books that I have read over the years and this is why I am starting to list books that I read some time ago.
1. Make a list.
2. Books that I have read a few times give to a local charity. My favourite at the moment is my local food bank which is something I thought I would never see in the UK. Mind you I will be standing at the door to wave goodbye with a tissue in my hand. They are my old friends after all.
3. Donate some books to my library as they are strapped for cash these days as well.
4. Move house with many rooms so my long suffering hubby isn't too aware of all my books.
My son tells me to go completely digital. I laughed so much I think I hurt his feelings.
There is just something special about a real book especially the older ones with their leather bindings and gold leaf around the edges. My idea of book heaven.
So back to this particular book that I read and loved with each page I turned. A wonderful story that had me reaching for my tissues and is now on my list.
Wonder if theirs a name for people who are addicted to reading books. Yes I just remembered the name is Shirley. 😇
December 17, 2018
Loved this book. Would read again.
March 30, 2018
One of the saddest books I have read. Evie Sutton was unloved since birth as she was born a girl. She finds kindness in Sunday school teacher. Finds a friend in Gary and finds love at 17 only to find herself pregnant and jilted.
Having to give up her daughter nearly kills her and she is kicked out of home. She meets another man who takes her to Canada. She has two children and makes friends only to find her husband is being unfaithful and leaves her. She returns to Birmingham. To see the outcome you will have to read the book.
Having to give up her daughter nearly kills her and she is kicked out of home. She meets another man who takes her to Canada. She has two children and makes friends only to find her husband is being unfaithful and leaves her. She returns to Birmingham. To see the outcome you will have to read the book.
October 3, 2018
The Doorstep Child by Annie Murray is the third book in a fabulous historical series set in Birmingham. This novel has Evie at its heart and covers the years from 1950's- 1970's. It is absolutely heart breaking. My emotions have been torn apart.
Evie, whom the reader met in War Babies, was born in 1943, always unwanted and uncared for (she was the 'wrong' sex), Evie has searched to belong and be loved. Evie is a delightful character with a good heart, full of love. I know it's just a story but I really wanted to give Evie a home!
The Doorstep Child is about family, community and love. It has the heart wrenching topics of illegitimate children and unmarried mothers and all the stigma that brings, homosexuality and mental health. The 1950's, 60's and 70's really seem like the dark ages to the modern reader who is horrified at the attitudes and treatments.
Community begun in the back to back housing has been fractured with the knocking down of the slums and the move to nicer houses in suburbia. However bonds formed years ago cannot be broken and the reader rejoices at the hearts that reach out in love.
Much of the novel is set in Birmingham. As a native of Birmingham, I loved the familiarity of the locations. I did not so much read this book, as walk through it.
The Doorstep Child can be read as a stand-alone however for maximum enjoyment I recommend reading War Babies and Now The War Is Over first, as you will be able to track the character development.
I have adored this series and the characters. Little (and later grown up) Evie, Gary and Carl all broke my heart. Thank you Annie Murray for another cracking read.
Evie, whom the reader met in War Babies, was born in 1943, always unwanted and uncared for (she was the 'wrong' sex), Evie has searched to belong and be loved. Evie is a delightful character with a good heart, full of love. I know it's just a story but I really wanted to give Evie a home!
The Doorstep Child is about family, community and love. It has the heart wrenching topics of illegitimate children and unmarried mothers and all the stigma that brings, homosexuality and mental health. The 1950's, 60's and 70's really seem like the dark ages to the modern reader who is horrified at the attitudes and treatments.
Community begun in the back to back housing has been fractured with the knocking down of the slums and the move to nicer houses in suburbia. However bonds formed years ago cannot be broken and the reader rejoices at the hearts that reach out in love.
Much of the novel is set in Birmingham. As a native of Birmingham, I loved the familiarity of the locations. I did not so much read this book, as walk through it.
The Doorstep Child can be read as a stand-alone however for maximum enjoyment I recommend reading War Babies and Now The War Is Over first, as you will be able to track the character development.
I have adored this series and the characters. Little (and later grown up) Evie, Gary and Carl all broke my heart. Thank you Annie Murray for another cracking read.
February 10, 2018
From a tender age little Evie struggled . . .
Evie spent her early years left outside on the step. With a drunk for a father and a neglectful mother, all little Evie has ever craved is a safe home and a normal existence.
Her young eyes had seen so much but this never tainted her spirit. If it wasn't for her best friend Gary, and friendly dog called Whisky - Evie might never have made it to the sixteenth birthday.
At sixteen she meets Ken, a sweet brown-eyed boy, not much older than she is. Perhaps her fortunes have changed? But no sooner does she give over her heart, she is betrayed, not for the first time in her young life...
Will Evie ever find the love and warmth she's always craved?
Evie spent her early years left outside on the step. With a drunk for a father and a neglectful mother, all little Evie has ever craved is a safe home and a normal existence.
Her young eyes had seen so much but this never tainted her spirit. If it wasn't for her best friend Gary, and friendly dog called Whisky - Evie might never have made it to the sixteenth birthday.
At sixteen she meets Ken, a sweet brown-eyed boy, not much older than she is. Perhaps her fortunes have changed? But no sooner does she give over her heart, she is betrayed, not for the first time in her young life...
Will Evie ever find the love and warmth she's always craved?
September 6, 2024
What an absolutely heart breaking story. I felt so sorry for Evie right from the beginning; how can a mother treat her own child so badly? Loved this story and was surprised at everything that happened when she returned to Birmingham. I don't know why but the Kindle edition of this book kept changing font from paragraph to paragraph, which I found annoying and distracting. I have only just found out that this is the third book of a series and although it can be read as a standalone book it does carry on from the first two.
February 23, 2019
What a fab but sad book. Great to read especially coming from Birmingham, so many familiar places in it. But Evie's story is heart breaking, her family are awful, nothing goes right for her and so many times I could have cried due to the spitefulness of how people treated her. But on the upside it's a great read Bab, lots of characters to like or mostly NOT like :-) will be buying some of her other set in Birmingham books for sure!
April 10, 2025
This is not usually my type of book, but I started reading it because it was in my Nans TBR pile, and she has recently passed away. I found the story engaging, and it was easy to pick up and read. The story revolved around Evie and the traumatic childhood she had and the people who let her down going forward. I was impressed by the mentions of Brum and the local areas, somewhere that I am from….. The story kept me hooked. And I was happy with the way it concluded.
Good read.
Good read.
March 8, 2020
This is one of the books that might take you a long time to get into - but in the end I was glad I kept to it, because all that happened before just drive home the really important message.
No "Hollywood solution", no prince charming to save the day, but very some realistic developments.
No "Hollywood solution", no prince charming to save the day, but very some realistic developments.
July 18, 2017
Brilliant read, couldnt put it down. Stayed with the main character throughout which i love, would recommend.
July 31, 2017
A good read. Recommended
September 30, 2018
I was so disappointed in the choice the central character made for her own children it put me off the book.
October 17, 2019
Loved every page
December 4, 2019
What a tearjerker ! get your tissues ready
Enjoyed it very much.
Love Annie Murray
Enjoyed it very much.
Love Annie Murray
February 8, 2021
It was a good book, but rather depressing. So many bad things kept happening.
February 1, 2023
Great read
February 11, 2024
THIS BOOK TOOK ME ABOUT 5 DAYS TO READ BUT WHAT A FANTASTIC BOOK WRITTEN BY ANNIE, I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN
April 16, 2024
Loved this book was so sad.. marked it down a star as I found the slang and dialect hard to understand which took away sone of the enjoyment but was a cracking story
December 13, 2024
Beginning was slow and lasted for the first hundred pages, then the story picked up.
March 5, 2017
absolutely love Annie's books, this one was one of the best yet! It could be because it's set in Birmingham (where my Mum was from) or just because it's absolutely brilliant but I definitely 100% recommend this to all. A definite must read! loved it!
April 11, 2017
Book
Annie you have surpassed yourself what a wonderful book I was so caught up in Evies life I felt I was living it at times so heartbreaking but very true to life everyone needs too read it
Annie you have surpassed yourself what a wonderful book I was so caught up in Evies life I felt I was living it at times so heartbreaking but very true to life everyone needs too read it
April 19, 2017
The doorstep child
Enjoyed this book from the first page to the last. I hope Annie writes a follow-up as it would be great to find out what happens and why the family treated her like they did. A must read.
Enjoyed this book from the first page to the last. I hope Annie writes a follow-up as it would be great to find out what happens and why the family treated her like they did. A must read.
Read
July 16, 2017This was my first book by Annie Murray that I got the chance to read, and I must say, I absolutely loved it! :'D
Read
February 1, 2018thoroughly enjoyable read
Read
December 16, 2018What an incredibly sad story. Poor Evie Sutton.
Set in Birmingham, Evie is the youngest of three sisters, their parents are a bit too fond of drinking and have no idea how parents should behave. Evie is the odd one out, she is shunned by her family, even as a young girl, often being left outside on the doorstep. Her sisters are also horrible to her, often hurling insults and making fun.
Although this story is a sad one, it's well written and the characters become almost real. I can easily relate to Evie and all she went through, she just wants someone who loves her, don't we all? Emotional but a very good read, covers so many issues still relevant today.
Set in Birmingham, Evie is the youngest of three sisters, their parents are a bit too fond of drinking and have no idea how parents should behave. Evie is the odd one out, she is shunned by her family, even as a young girl, often being left outside on the doorstep. Her sisters are also horrible to her, often hurling insults and making fun.
Although this story is a sad one, it's well written and the characters become almost real. I can easily relate to Evie and all she went through, she just wants someone who loves her, don't we all? Emotional but a very good read, covers so many issues still relevant today.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews