Julia in Ireland

Julia Probyn #8

by Ann Bridge

While on her last assignment with British Intelligence in Morocco, the widowed Julia Probyn Jamieson meets and is strongly attracted to an Irish country lawyer, Gerald O'Brien, who is travelling with friends of hers. O'Brien has asked Julia to marry him but she delays her decision until he has met her five-year-old son Philip, who is somewhat hard to handle.

Boy and man take to each other, and it becomes clear that Gerald will be an ideal stepfather. On his part, Gerald insists that she come to Ireland to see his modest home and meet his friends and neighbors before she makes up her mind, for his world is far different from the glamorous cosmopolitan one she is accustomed to.

Julia's quiet vacation is interrupted when she stumbles upon a plot by an unknown land speculator who, with the unwitting aid of an attractive American woman and an Irish poet, is surreptitiously buying a strip of land along the coast for the purpose of building a huge resort hotel and casino. The intrepid Julia is drawn in as a participant when she joins Gerald in his investigation of this devious scheme, which will destroy the wild beauty of the coast and disrupt the peace of the community.

Ann Bridge has woven a web of intrigue against the background of a remote Irish village, its people, and their customs. The unexpected denouement and happy ending will delight the author's many devoted readers.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Ireland

254 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Mid twentieth-century novelist [real name, Mary Anne O'Malley] who began by exploiting the milieu of the British Foreign Office community in Peking, China, where she lived for two years with her diplomat husband. Her novels combine courtship plots with vividly-realised settings and demure social satire.

She went on to write novels which take as the background of their protagonists' emotional lives a serious investigation of modern historical developments (such as the leap by which Turkey progressed from a feudal-style government to become a modern republic in which women enjoyed equality of rights and equality of opportunity).

Ann Bridge also wrote thrillers centred on a female amateur detective, travel books, and family memoirs.

Reviews

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable and easy read, even though it was a little on the slow side. I think in all fairness, it would have been better to have have read the previous books in the series. I have never been to Ireland and now want to visit after reading the wonderful descriptions.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second in her series that I have read. It was quick and I liked reading it.Not a whole lot happened, but it was very readable and I liked the Irish setting.

[Chrissie]

*********************

*Enchanter's Nightshade 4 stars
*The Dark Moment 4 stars
*A Place To Stand: A Novel 4 stars
*The Tightening String 4 stars
*Illyrian Spring 3 stars
*Peking Picnic TBR

*Julia Probyn Series:
1. The Lighthearted Quest 4 stars
2.The Portuguese Escape TBR
3.The Numbered Account TBR
4,The Dangerous Islands TBR
5.Emergency In The Pyrenees TBR
6.The Episode at Toledo TBR
7.The Malady in Madeira TBR
8.Julia in Ireland TBR

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sigh. This made me think of The Spy Who Loved Me. The reader thinks he’s getting James Bond, but what he gets is a motel fire. I’ve had a love/hate relationship with this series; the Cold War intrigue and local color were excellent, but the casual racism and classism (no doubt spot-on) appalled and the Mary Sue protagonist irritated at times. No more spies in this book and Julia’s already been to Ireland, so what’s left? But a little of the charm still lingers and this was obviously the swan song, hence the three stars.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julia is visiting friends in Ireland while she tries to decide whether or not to marry Gerald O"Brien — she isn't entirely sure if she loves him, or just thinks he'd make a good stepfather for her young son. She quickly becomes involved in a local issue, involving a plot to buy local land for a resort, including a casino. Naturally the locals, especially the upper class, are very much opposed, and are trying to find ways to stop it. This is a very relaxing, laid-back story, in a lovely setting. Definitely a comfort read, and a wonderful conclusion to this enjoyable series. Recommended.

[Gail Wylde · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very quick easy read and although nothing really much happens it's still quite a nice story. I think it would make a nice TV series for Sunday afternoon viewing, the Irish countryside would make a stunning backdrop to this. This is the second book I have read if this series but I don't think I will read any more as I do like something to happen in the books I read!
Thank you Netgalley.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last book in the Julia Probyn espionage series centers around Julia's visit to Western Ireland with a local attorney to decide if she will marry him and around a plot to build a large tourist development on the coast that they both want to avert. Beautiful descriptions of the little towns, farms, coast and local characters.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to give JULIA IN IRELAND an enthusiastic 4, but am settling for a respectable 3. It's always a pleasure to be back in Julia's company, with her stylish ways, busy globetrotting and sleuthing with a bit of romance in the air. This final book in the series, however, felt somehow tired and lackluster. Still no regrets, and I look forward to rereading the whole series some time.

[Carol Kerry-Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I enjoyed reading this and catching up with Julia and her family once more, I didn't think it was any where near as good as the earlier books about her. The mystery was just, well, not mysterious.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

SOOO boring!

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a very exciting finish to the series but nice to leave Julia in happy circumstances.

[Erin Parks · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was enjoyable, and I plan to keep it on my shelf. It was not a murder mystery as I expected. But the plot was interesting and the characters lovely.

[Arlena · Rating 4 out of 5]

By: Ann Bridge
Published By: McGraw-Hill Companies
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 4
Book Blog For: GMTA
Series: Julia Probyn #8
Review:

"Julia In Ireland" by Ann Bridge was the last book in this author's 'Julia Probyn' espionage series. This will be a mystery read of Julia's visit to Ireland with Gerald O'Brien has as asked her to marry her. While Julia is on this vacation, it will be interrupted when she "stumbles upon a plot by an unknown land speculator who, with the unwitting aid of an attractive American woman and an Irish poet, is surreptitiously buying a strip of land along the coast for the purpose of building a huge resort hotel and casino." A investigation will be started and it gets interesting for these two and this will be where I say you must pick up "Julia In Ireland" to see how this author will bring this 'web of intrigue against the background of a remote Irish village, its people, and their customs.' Would I recommend this read? YES!

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun....certainly dated but nice to see Julia happy.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book, very entertaining and with lovely description of Ireland. It was a fast read and it's well written.
Really enjoyed it.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.