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33 Women
When sisters Celine and Pip get a call telling them their reclusive mother has died, the women are reunited at her riverside home in Arundel to pick up the pieces. But someone is missing - their middle sister, Vanessa, brutally murdered years ago and the victim of an unsolved case. As the sisters confront ghosts from the past, the discovery of another body in similar circumstances throws new light on Vanessa's death. Could there be more to her case than the police first thought? And what do the mysterious residents of Two Cross Farm, the neighbouring women's commune, have to do with it? What secrets are lurking behind their locked gates? And what is the significance of the number 33
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First published November 26, 2020
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About the author
Isabel Ashdown
15 books255 followersIsabel Ashdown is an award-winning author and writing coach. 'One Girl, One Summer' is her tenth novel.
Isabel’s writing career launched with her critically acclaimed debut 'Glasshopper', which was twice named among Best Books of the Year after winning first prize in a national competition judged by Fay Weldon, Sir John Mortimer, and Michael Ridpath. Since then, her thrillers 'Little Sister' and 'Beautiful Liars' have been shortlisted in the Dead Good Reader Awards, while '33 Women' was an Amazon bestseller within weeks of release. Alongside her own work, Isabel is a Royal Literary Fund Fellow and a coach to developing writers.
Born in London, Isabel grew up on the south coast, and she now spends much of her time in a writing cabin in West Dorset, built for her by carpenter husband, Colin. She is a member of the Society of Authors and is represented by Kate Shaw of The Shaw Agency. Isabel lives with her husband, with whom she has two grown-up children and a pair of ageing dogs. Her happy place is anywhere with a coastal view.
Find out more about Isabel via her website, Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.
Isabel’s writing career launched with her critically acclaimed debut 'Glasshopper', which was twice named among Best Books of the Year after winning first prize in a national competition judged by Fay Weldon, Sir John Mortimer, and Michael Ridpath. Since then, her thrillers 'Little Sister' and 'Beautiful Liars' have been shortlisted in the Dead Good Reader Awards, while '33 Women' was an Amazon bestseller within weeks of release. Alongside her own work, Isabel is a Royal Literary Fund Fellow and a coach to developing writers.
Born in London, Isabel grew up on the south coast, and she now spends much of her time in a writing cabin in West Dorset, built for her by carpenter husband, Colin. She is a member of the Society of Authors and is represented by Kate Shaw of The Shaw Agency. Isabel lives with her husband, with whom she has two grown-up children and a pair of ageing dogs. Her happy place is anywhere with a coastal view.
Find out more about Isabel via her website, Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.
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September 16, 2021
33 Women by Isabel Ashdown, narrated by Candida Gubbins, Imogen Church
This is a strange story. There is a sense of hysteria at times and the narrators voice those times every well. For a story about a place that should be serene and free from the worries of the outside world, Two Cross Farm is rife with conflict over the years. It is a cult-ish women's commune with rigid rules that must be followed to the letter, with the penalty of permanent banishment if broken. Thirty three is considered to be the optimum number of inhabitants and there is a waiting list of women who are willing to shed all their "limpets", including children, in order to live at Two Cross Farms. Almost everything is considered an impediment to the tenets of this group and the women are cloistered for what the originators consider their own good.
The sister of Celine and Pip was murdered fifteen years ago and now that their estranged mom has died and left them a place that neighbors Two Cross Farm they realize that their sister had connections to the farm. In present day, a woman's body is found nearby and she has the same two crosses tattoo that dead sister Vanessa had. With the help of their retired their ex-police officer friend Una, they begin investigating suspicious events connected to the farm. The local police may have dropped the ball over the years when it came to following through on things going on in the area and could be doing the same now.
Celine and Pip, in the name of getting to the bottom of their sister's death, make very unwise decisions but I decided to turn off the most critical parts of my mind and see where this story took me. Two Cross Farms is a haven for women who are victims of abusive men and I can understand that Two Cross Farm might seem like a refuge from the oppression of the outside world although it also represents it's own kind of repression. This is really borne out by the ending of the book when we find out all the dark and dirty secrets of this farm and it's founders. Crazy things have gone on in the past and crazy things are going on now, at Two Cross Farms. Take this story with a huge grain of salt and you can be entertained by this psychological mystery.
Published Sept 15, 2021 (audio)
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC.
This is a strange story. There is a sense of hysteria at times and the narrators voice those times every well. For a story about a place that should be serene and free from the worries of the outside world, Two Cross Farm is rife with conflict over the years. It is a cult-ish women's commune with rigid rules that must be followed to the letter, with the penalty of permanent banishment if broken. Thirty three is considered to be the optimum number of inhabitants and there is a waiting list of women who are willing to shed all their "limpets", including children, in order to live at Two Cross Farms. Almost everything is considered an impediment to the tenets of this group and the women are cloistered for what the originators consider their own good.
The sister of Celine and Pip was murdered fifteen years ago and now that their estranged mom has died and left them a place that neighbors Two Cross Farm they realize that their sister had connections to the farm. In present day, a woman's body is found nearby and she has the same two crosses tattoo that dead sister Vanessa had. With the help of their retired their ex-police officer friend Una, they begin investigating suspicious events connected to the farm. The local police may have dropped the ball over the years when it came to following through on things going on in the area and could be doing the same now.
Celine and Pip, in the name of getting to the bottom of their sister's death, make very unwise decisions but I decided to turn off the most critical parts of my mind and see where this story took me. Two Cross Farms is a haven for women who are victims of abusive men and I can understand that Two Cross Farm might seem like a refuge from the oppression of the outside world although it also represents it's own kind of repression. This is really borne out by the ending of the book when we find out all the dark and dirty secrets of this farm and it's founders. Crazy things have gone on in the past and crazy things are going on now, at Two Cross Farms. Take this story with a huge grain of salt and you can be entertained by this psychological mystery.
Published Sept 15, 2021 (audio)
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC.
July 13, 2021
33 Women by Isabel Ashdown was a fast paced mystery thriller told in alternating chapters that took place in the past and the present time. Although Isabel Ashdown has written eight previous books, this was my first book I had read by her. I was impressed with her writing and complex plot along with the vivid and well developed cast of characters she presented. Both narrators, Candida Gubbins and Imogen Church, brilliantly narrated this book. I found the ending surprising but satisfying. It was not how I expected this book to end.
Two sisters, Celine and Pip, were reunited after many years, at their recently deceased mother’s riverside home in Arundel, England. Celine and Pip had been estranged from their reclusive mother for many years. Their mother had always chosen herself over her daughters. When the sisters were barely capable of taking care of themselves, their mother left for good. Back then, there were three sisters. Vanessa, the middle sister, had been brutally murdered over fifteen years prior to their mother’s death. Her murder was never solved and it still haunted both Celine and Pip. When the sisters returned to their mother’s home to put their mother’s affairs in order and bury their mother, the sisters found themselves in different roles now. Celine was now an unmarried lawyer and Pip was a wife and mother of two little girls. Celine and Pip had had little contact with each other over the years. Their mother’s friend, Una, had also joined them to provide support and help. Una was now a retired police detective and a long time family friend that had stayed in touch with both sisters.
Very close by to Celine’s and Pip’s family home was a neighboring women’s commune named Two Cross Farm. Years and years ago several women ran away and were considered missing. The women had several things in common. They had either been abused or had nowhere else to go. The women ended up at Two Cross Farm where they established a safe haven for women. The founding women established rules to govern themselves and to live by. Fern became its leader and the women thrived off the land and became self sufficient. They rarely if ever had contact with the outside world. Their world was made up of only women who had something to offer to the others or needed the other’s help in keeping them safe. Shortly after it’s establishment, a baby was born, and it was decided that it would someday be ordained as the new leader of Two Cross Farm. That baby would take over the responsibilities Fern had held as the current leader. The women were seen by outsiders as a cult or commune. No one bothered them or paid much attention to them until a murder occurred. The murder was scarily similar to the murder of Celine and Pip’s sister that she suffered almost fifteen years ago.
An investigation was started and it soon became evident to both Celine and Pip how eerily similar the circumstances of this murder was to that of their sister’s murder all those years ago. The most glaring similarity was the body placement and similar location. Who was this young girl? Why was she in Arundel? It soon became clear that she had lived at Two Cross Farm and worked as a cook there for a short time before her body was found. The women at Two Cross Farm soon became suspects as well. Their leader, a woman known as Seed, held a news conference and spoke to the public where she described the woman’s sudden disappearance from Two Creek Farm and their lack of any knowledge concerning her death. Celine and Pip wanted their sister’s murder case reopened. Perhaps the same murderer had killed both their sister and this young women. Then another murder was discovered and it was discovered that it had been carried out in much the same fashion as the other two murders. All three murders, although years apart, were being investigated now. Celine, Pip and Una suspected that the women at Two Cross Farm were not as innocent as they appeared. How could they prove their theories? Was it possible to infiltrate their cult and learn their secrets? Was Vanessa’s death linked to these other two deaths?
I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of 33 Women by Isabel Ashdown. The diverse characters were believable and likable for the most part. There were several twists in this book that kept me guessing until the very end. I will look forward to reading more books by Isabel Ashdown in the future. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of 33 Women through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Two sisters, Celine and Pip, were reunited after many years, at their recently deceased mother’s riverside home in Arundel, England. Celine and Pip had been estranged from their reclusive mother for many years. Their mother had always chosen herself over her daughters. When the sisters were barely capable of taking care of themselves, their mother left for good. Back then, there were three sisters. Vanessa, the middle sister, had been brutally murdered over fifteen years prior to their mother’s death. Her murder was never solved and it still haunted both Celine and Pip. When the sisters returned to their mother’s home to put their mother’s affairs in order and bury their mother, the sisters found themselves in different roles now. Celine was now an unmarried lawyer and Pip was a wife and mother of two little girls. Celine and Pip had had little contact with each other over the years. Their mother’s friend, Una, had also joined them to provide support and help. Una was now a retired police detective and a long time family friend that had stayed in touch with both sisters.
Very close by to Celine’s and Pip’s family home was a neighboring women’s commune named Two Cross Farm. Years and years ago several women ran away and were considered missing. The women had several things in common. They had either been abused or had nowhere else to go. The women ended up at Two Cross Farm where they established a safe haven for women. The founding women established rules to govern themselves and to live by. Fern became its leader and the women thrived off the land and became self sufficient. They rarely if ever had contact with the outside world. Their world was made up of only women who had something to offer to the others or needed the other’s help in keeping them safe. Shortly after it’s establishment, a baby was born, and it was decided that it would someday be ordained as the new leader of Two Cross Farm. That baby would take over the responsibilities Fern had held as the current leader. The women were seen by outsiders as a cult or commune. No one bothered them or paid much attention to them until a murder occurred. The murder was scarily similar to the murder of Celine and Pip’s sister that she suffered almost fifteen years ago.
An investigation was started and it soon became evident to both Celine and Pip how eerily similar the circumstances of this murder was to that of their sister’s murder all those years ago. The most glaring similarity was the body placement and similar location. Who was this young girl? Why was she in Arundel? It soon became clear that she had lived at Two Cross Farm and worked as a cook there for a short time before her body was found. The women at Two Cross Farm soon became suspects as well. Their leader, a woman known as Seed, held a news conference and spoke to the public where she described the woman’s sudden disappearance from Two Creek Farm and their lack of any knowledge concerning her death. Celine and Pip wanted their sister’s murder case reopened. Perhaps the same murderer had killed both their sister and this young women. Then another murder was discovered and it was discovered that it had been carried out in much the same fashion as the other two murders. All three murders, although years apart, were being investigated now. Celine, Pip and Una suspected that the women at Two Cross Farm were not as innocent as they appeared. How could they prove their theories? Was it possible to infiltrate their cult and learn their secrets? Was Vanessa’s death linked to these other two deaths?
I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of 33 Women by Isabel Ashdown. The diverse characters were believable and likable for the most part. There were several twists in this book that kept me guessing until the very end. I will look forward to reading more books by Isabel Ashdown in the future. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of 33 Women through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
October 20, 2020
Sisters Pip and Celine are determined to finally discover who killed their sister Vanessa in 2005 and they are now especially sharply focused as a body of a woman has been found in similar circumstances in 2019. Both women appear to have links to a women’s refuge at Two Cross Farm of 33 women, founded in the 1970’s by Fern and now led by Seed. The story is told by Bramble who is in the refuge and by Celine.
This is a very intriguing psychological thriller as the refuge in itself is fascinating. When she set it up Fern links it to the power and significance of numbers which is an element that makes it just a bit different and it also examines the power of women especially through their code. This demonstrates a bond of trust and purpose which at times is chilling and at others it’s shocking in their clarity of vision. The reasons that some women end up there is very sobering. The group isn’t a cult but it does have the feel of one which makes you feel uneasy as there is some control over the inmates. There are some very good characters, I really like Celine and Pip and they are aided by family friend Una, an ex police officer, and she is a terrific character. The mystery surrounding the murders broadens and deepens, there’s a lot of tension and some good twists as the truth unfolds. It has a good pace and is well written with the author creating a very good atmosphere at Two Cross Farm and a sense of focus, purpose and determination from Una and the sisters. Maybe the ending is a tad far fetched but the signs are there and it certainly does not come out of left field and as I overwhelmingly enjoyed the book I’m happy to go with the flow!!
Overall, this is a good, dark, gripping and a very interesting read and just a little bit different which I really appreciate.
With thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group/Trapeze for the arc in return for an honest review.
This is a very intriguing psychological thriller as the refuge in itself is fascinating. When she set it up Fern links it to the power and significance of numbers which is an element that makes it just a bit different and it also examines the power of women especially through their code. This demonstrates a bond of trust and purpose which at times is chilling and at others it’s shocking in their clarity of vision. The reasons that some women end up there is very sobering. The group isn’t a cult but it does have the feel of one which makes you feel uneasy as there is some control over the inmates. There are some very good characters, I really like Celine and Pip and they are aided by family friend Una, an ex police officer, and she is a terrific character. The mystery surrounding the murders broadens and deepens, there’s a lot of tension and some good twists as the truth unfolds. It has a good pace and is well written with the author creating a very good atmosphere at Two Cross Farm and a sense of focus, purpose and determination from Una and the sisters. Maybe the ending is a tad far fetched but the signs are there and it certainly does not come out of left field and as I overwhelmingly enjoyed the book I’m happy to go with the flow!!
Overall, this is a good, dark, gripping and a very interesting read and just a little bit different which I really appreciate.
With thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group/Trapeze for the arc in return for an honest review.
November 25, 2020
When sisters Celine and Pip get a call telling them their reclusive mother has died, the woman are reunited at her riverside home in Arundel to pick up the pieces. But something is missing, their middle sister, Vanessa who had been brutally murdered years ago. The case had never been solved. As the sisters confront ghosts from the past, the discovery of another body in similar circumstances throws a new light on Vanessa's death.
Celine along with the help from her mother's friend and ex-cop, Una revisit Vanessa's murder. Vanessa had lived in a refuge before she was murdered. Celine and Pip want the case reinvestigated. The characters were well rounded and believable. The pace is slow but the story doesn't drag out. The story is descriptively written and multilayered.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #OrionPublishingGroup and the author #IsabelAshdown for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Celine along with the help from her mother's friend and ex-cop, Una revisit Vanessa's murder. Vanessa had lived in a refuge before she was murdered. Celine and Pip want the case reinvestigated. The characters were well rounded and believable. The pace is slow but the story doesn't drag out. The story is descriptively written and multilayered.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #OrionPublishingGroup and the author #IsabelAshdown for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2020
The story started with Celine and Pip coming back home on hearing about their mother’s death. They missed their middle sister, Vanessa, intensely who had beaten and killed years ago. Another death and body posed in the same manner opened up the police investigation. Residents of the Two Cross Farm close by were the main suspects.
The book was quite different in its formatting. I had the present story of Celine and Pip, and the past and present stories of the women on Two Cross Farm. From the beginning, I knew there was a connection.
I liked the book as it was different. I was quite curious to know how the author would link the parallel lines. The ladies next door on the farm were a secretive lot whose leader Seed was the one who spoke.
The suspense was steady with the Two Cross Farm giving a cult like ambiance. Both Celine and Pip had their past and present ghosts. They needed to overcome their hurdles to have a stronger bond. The story coasted between women’s fiction and thriller.
When the story started unraveling its secrets, something niggled me. There was a strange feeling that the subplots didn’t really fit well, and pace felt slow. Nonetheless, the story was intriguing.
The twists were many, and some of the reveals were quite explosive. I hadn’t read something like that in recent times in any book. I knew everything but understood nothing, and the final truth stole away my breath.
A character driven story showing the lives of many women interlinked with each other.
The book was quite different in its formatting. I had the present story of Celine and Pip, and the past and present stories of the women on Two Cross Farm. From the beginning, I knew there was a connection.
I liked the book as it was different. I was quite curious to know how the author would link the parallel lines. The ladies next door on the farm were a secretive lot whose leader Seed was the one who spoke.
The suspense was steady with the Two Cross Farm giving a cult like ambiance. Both Celine and Pip had their past and present ghosts. They needed to overcome their hurdles to have a stronger bond. The story coasted between women’s fiction and thriller.
When the story started unraveling its secrets, something niggled me. There was a strange feeling that the subplots didn’t really fit well, and pace felt slow. Nonetheless, the story was intriguing.
The twists were many, and some of the reveals were quite explosive. I hadn’t read something like that in recent times in any book. I knew everything but understood nothing, and the final truth stole away my breath.
A character driven story showing the lives of many women interlinked with each other.
July 20, 2021
(4.5 rounded up!!) This audiobook (& 2 Cross Farms specifically,) had me hooked from the beginning. The idea of the place sounds so safe & serene, but have the women succeeded in their founders vision?
Narrated by Candida Gubbins & Imogen Church (always 1 of my favorites,) they did a great job expressing both the tension & the tenderness this quick moving mystery is filled with. Told through alternating chapters in the past and present, we're all trying to figure out if the new murders are connected to the old? & do either have to do with the women at 2 Cross Farms? I also thought the dynamic between Celine & Pip (& their family friend, Uma) was interesting.. I love finding myself in the middle of something totally different & realizing idk what is actually going on! This definitely did that for me, & the ending didn't disappoint.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media & Netgalley for letting me listen to this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Narrated by Candida Gubbins & Imogen Church (always 1 of my favorites,) they did a great job expressing both the tension & the tenderness this quick moving mystery is filled with. Told through alternating chapters in the past and present, we're all trying to figure out if the new murders are connected to the old? & do either have to do with the women at 2 Cross Farms? I also thought the dynamic between Celine & Pip (& their family friend, Uma) was interesting.. I love finding myself in the middle of something totally different & realizing idk what is actually going on! This definitely did that for me, & the ending didn't disappoint.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media & Netgalley for letting me listen to this arc in exchange for an honest review.
November 26, 2020
33 Women is the eighth novel from critically-acclaimed thriller writer Isabel Ashdown, set in and around Arundel, and is a richly atmospheric and beautifully written psychological thriller. It's May 2020 and sisters Celine and Pip come together to deal with the chaos that ensues after their reclusive and estranged mother's death. Meeting at the large family home Delilah had inhabited in the last years of her life, located in the lush countryside overlooking the river and boasting a neatly manicured garden, they resolve to try to put her affairs in order at a time of grief and immense upheaval. But returning to the house brings back repressed memories of their middle sister Vanessa's brutal murder fifteen years earlier in 2005, when her body was discovered dumped like garbage near Brighton Pier, allegedly caused by a domestic violence incident. The void they still feel in their heart for her Is evident but luckily they are also joined by long-time family friend and ex police officer Una, who has agreed to reinvestigate the cold case to try to identify and apprehend the killer. Then when the corpse of another young woman is discovered, slain in much the same way as Vanessa, close to the family home, the new information means the police suddenly focus in on the case with renewed vigour.
All roads seemingly lead to the neighbouring property known as a Two Cross Farm, well known to be a commune housing women fleeing bad situations. Some describe it as a cult and others as a refuge, but either way, they may hold the key to Vanessa's demise. Do they know more than they're letting on? This is a compelling, character-driven family drama with enough of an intricate backstory to keep you enthralled throughout and the slow-burn nature of its pacing worked superbly as Ashdown built up the multiple layers of the plot. Full of intrigue and an engrossing mystery surrounding Vanessa's death, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the twists and red herrings woven in to the story with the aim of throwing you off the scent. The details of the commune were fascinating to me as I love mysterious organisations and had no idea it was going to be quite as sinister and disturbing as it turned out. The cast of strong females and their exceptional and inspiring portrayal is an aspect Ashdown delivers consistently well in her novels, and 33 Women is no exception. Told in seamlessly, alternating past and present viewpoints, we are treated to a diverse and engaging cast, a taut and involving plotline, a rich setting and some big surprises. This is a real treat and the conclusion makes for a satisfying cherry on top of the cake.
All roads seemingly lead to the neighbouring property known as a Two Cross Farm, well known to be a commune housing women fleeing bad situations. Some describe it as a cult and others as a refuge, but either way, they may hold the key to Vanessa's demise. Do they know more than they're letting on? This is a compelling, character-driven family drama with enough of an intricate backstory to keep you enthralled throughout and the slow-burn nature of its pacing worked superbly as Ashdown built up the multiple layers of the plot. Full of intrigue and an engrossing mystery surrounding Vanessa's death, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the twists and red herrings woven in to the story with the aim of throwing you off the scent. The details of the commune were fascinating to me as I love mysterious organisations and had no idea it was going to be quite as sinister and disturbing as it turned out. The cast of strong females and their exceptional and inspiring portrayal is an aspect Ashdown delivers consistently well in her novels, and 33 Women is no exception. Told in seamlessly, alternating past and present viewpoints, we are treated to a diverse and engaging cast, a taut and involving plotline, a rich setting and some big surprises. This is a real treat and the conclusion makes for a satisfying cherry on top of the cake.
April 9, 2021
Isabel Ashdown has done it again. 33 Women is a tense and well crafted book with one heck of a twist that completely blindsided me! This book was refreshingly different and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
January 6, 2021
Isabel Ashdown specialises in domestics, especially family stories and sibling rivalry. In her first novel, Glasshopper, she created a fascinating though for me sometimes infuriating puzzle, with two nonparallel timelines extending from the 1950s to the ‘80s with different unreliable narrators - Mary who is drunk much of the time and her son Jake who is just entering his teens with but a limited view of what’s really happening. Like other readers, I felt the tale too convoluted for its final revelations, yet most moving and one I intend to read again someday. I’ve read two of Ashdown’s later books, Little Sister, set on the Isle of Wight, and Beautiful Liars, on the Regent’s Canal. Her newest book, 33 Women, remains close to the water, Arundel near the south coast. Near the banks of the Arun, two sisters, Celine and Pip, are sorting out the remaining possessions of their mother Delilah, who has succumbed to a drug overdose, possibly accidental - perhaps. But nearby is Two Cross Farm, a feminist commune consisting of 33 women. That number is important, as all readers of The Divine Comedy know, although it doesn’t appear that the founders ever read Dante - indeed, it’s not sure they’ve ever read Adrienne Rich. The story is narrated alternatively in the first person by Bramble, one of the original members of the commune, and in third person from Celine’s viewpoint. Bramble’s narrative begins in the 1970s; Celine is contemporary. As an author’s note at the beginning tells us, we are to imagine 2020 without the virus - a feature that made this book more enjoyable for me than otherwise. Celine and Pip also had another younger sister, Vanessa, whose murdered body was found in Brighton fifteen years before. Her abusive boyfriend was the principal suspect, but he has disappeared. And Vanessa had a connexion with the commune as well. And now the police are investigating another murder of a young woman, found along the river, the body having been disposed similarly to Vanessa’s. Both had identical tattoos, two crosses on their abdomens. Fortunately, Pip and Celine have a friend named Una, a retired police officer, and they undertake to find out what is going on at the commune.
We soon feel that there is something not quite right about the farm and especially their leader, Seed, who had been introduced to the community by their founder Fern as an infant and given the role of director on reaching adulthood. Although one of the twelve community rules states ‘In all things sisters are equal’, Two Cross Farm very much reminded me of another famous farm in literature, where some animals are more equal than others. The final twist was not a surprise for me - not anticipated but entertained as a possibility. The secrets of Two Cross Farm were not shocking; most technically criminal acts struck me as justified either as self-defence or an understandable desire for privacy. Yet in hindsight, the more I reflected on the story, the more unlikely it seemed, and the more ill-conceived the community. Inspired by 1970s era feminism; would such a community have survived over four decades? There’s a point in the story where another women’s community briefly figures in the story - a community of Roman Catholic Franciscan sisters. The contrast, intended or not by the author, between the open and welcoming Poor Claires and the suspicious and truculent manner of the Two Cross commune was striking and reminded me of something those old enough to remember the seventies observed, that communities without a strong spiritual foundation as well as a tested rule of common life disintegrated quite soon. And when we discover the final secret, we may be surprised there had been no revolt against the rule of Fern and her successor Seed long before the present.
Because Glasshopper so long fascinated me, I was disappointed by 33 Women, which as read-and-discard recreation is a perfectly satisfactory way to pass the time. When apps offer to help me read more I feel guilty because I spend a huge amount of time reading already and really ought to do more other things for myself and the world. If Ashdown had turned the same critical attention as in Glasshopper to what would likely happen to a commune like this, it could have been a moving and instructive, I should feel my time was better spent.
We soon feel that there is something not quite right about the farm and especially their leader, Seed, who had been introduced to the community by their founder Fern as an infant and given the role of director on reaching adulthood. Although one of the twelve community rules states ‘In all things sisters are equal’, Two Cross Farm very much reminded me of another famous farm in literature, where some animals are more equal than others. The final twist was not a surprise for me - not anticipated but entertained as a possibility. The secrets of Two Cross Farm were not shocking; most technically criminal acts struck me as justified either as self-defence or an understandable desire for privacy. Yet in hindsight, the more I reflected on the story, the more unlikely it seemed, and the more ill-conceived the community. Inspired by 1970s era feminism; would such a community have survived over four decades? There’s a point in the story where another women’s community briefly figures in the story - a community of Roman Catholic Franciscan sisters. The contrast, intended or not by the author, between the open and welcoming Poor Claires and the suspicious and truculent manner of the Two Cross commune was striking and reminded me of something those old enough to remember the seventies observed, that communities without a strong spiritual foundation as well as a tested rule of common life disintegrated quite soon. And when we discover the final secret, we may be surprised there had been no revolt against the rule of Fern and her successor Seed long before the present.
Because Glasshopper so long fascinated me, I was disappointed by 33 Women, which as read-and-discard recreation is a perfectly satisfactory way to pass the time. When apps offer to help me read more I feel guilty because I spend a huge amount of time reading already and really ought to do more other things for myself and the world. If Ashdown had turned the same critical attention as in Glasshopper to what would likely happen to a commune like this, it could have been a moving and instructive, I should feel my time was better spent.
June 26, 2021
Wow! That was great. Why haven’t I heard about this author before? This audiobook book was told by Candida Gubbins and Imogen Church. They narrated dual POV’s.
Past and present information is brought forward to reveal several mysterious deaths. Well done, with the right amount of pull to keep me listening.
The author skillfully lays out a strange situation that only becomes stranger. I was surprised at every turn and really enjoyed it.
I highly recommend listening to this if you love mystery and women’s literature.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media via Netgalley.
Past and present information is brought forward to reveal several mysterious deaths. Well done, with the right amount of pull to keep me listening.
The author skillfully lays out a strange situation that only becomes stranger. I was surprised at every turn and really enjoyed it.
I highly recommend listening to this if you love mystery and women’s literature.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media via Netgalley.
September 4, 2023
Op de oude boerderij Two Cross Farm wonen drieëndertig vrouwen in volledige afzondering. Voor de buitenwereld is deze sekteachtige commune in nevelen gehuld. Binnen de muren gelden strenge regels en wie die niet tot op de letter naleeft wordt permanent verbannen. Wie zich bij hen wil voegen, moet al haar aardse bezittingen achterlaten – ook haar kinderen.
De zussen Celine en Pip hebben elkaar niet meer gesproken sinds de onopgeloste moord op hun zusje Vanessa, vijftien jaar geleden. Nu worden ze door het overlijden van hun moeder herenigd in hun ouderlijk huis, op een steenworp afstand van Two Cross Farm. Terwijl de zussen hun moeders spullen uitzoeken, wordt de plaatselijke politie geconfronteerd met een nieuwe moord. Net als vijftien jaar geleden wordt het lijk van een vrouw gevonden, ruw verminkt door een tatoeage van twee kruisen.
Dit verhaal lees je vanuit personages Celine en Bramble. De hoofdstukken vanuit Celine spelen zich af in het heden en ze komt weer in contact met haar zus Pip door het overlijden van hun moeder. Vijftien jaar geleden is hun zus Vanessa vermoord en ze weten nog steeds niet precies wat er die bewuste dag met haar is gebeurd.
De hoofdstukken vanuit Bramble lees je in het verleden. Ze is samen met een groepje andere vrouwen de oprichtster van de sekte 'Two Cross Farm'. Hier leven vrouwen die tot rust willen komen, of van hun agressieve man zijn weggelopen. De sfeer op deze boerderij is mysterieus en je voelt dat er bepaalde dingen niet kloppen.
Dan wordt er weer een jonge vrouw dood aangetroffen in de omgeving en Celine en Pip vragen zich af of de moordenaar van hun zus weer actief is. Er zijn namelijk overeenkomsten, dus ze proberen op onderzoek uit te gaan.
'33 vrouwen' wordt niet heel erg spannend, maar ik vond vooral de sfeer op de boerderij erg interessant. Ook de leefwijze van deze vrouwen was erg boeiend. De vondst van de dode vrouw maakte het voor mij ook pakkend om verder te lezen. Staat dit in verband met de moord op Vanessa?
Al met al was '33 vrouwen' leuk om te lezen. Verwacht alleen geen superspannende thriller, maar eerder een mysterieus verhaal met een apart sfeertje.
Beoordeling: 3,5 ⭐️
De zussen Celine en Pip hebben elkaar niet meer gesproken sinds de onopgeloste moord op hun zusje Vanessa, vijftien jaar geleden. Nu worden ze door het overlijden van hun moeder herenigd in hun ouderlijk huis, op een steenworp afstand van Two Cross Farm. Terwijl de zussen hun moeders spullen uitzoeken, wordt de plaatselijke politie geconfronteerd met een nieuwe moord. Net als vijftien jaar geleden wordt het lijk van een vrouw gevonden, ruw verminkt door een tatoeage van twee kruisen.
Dit verhaal lees je vanuit personages Celine en Bramble. De hoofdstukken vanuit Celine spelen zich af in het heden en ze komt weer in contact met haar zus Pip door het overlijden van hun moeder. Vijftien jaar geleden is hun zus Vanessa vermoord en ze weten nog steeds niet precies wat er die bewuste dag met haar is gebeurd.
De hoofdstukken vanuit Bramble lees je in het verleden. Ze is samen met een groepje andere vrouwen de oprichtster van de sekte 'Two Cross Farm'. Hier leven vrouwen die tot rust willen komen, of van hun agressieve man zijn weggelopen. De sfeer op deze boerderij is mysterieus en je voelt dat er bepaalde dingen niet kloppen.
Dan wordt er weer een jonge vrouw dood aangetroffen in de omgeving en Celine en Pip vragen zich af of de moordenaar van hun zus weer actief is. Er zijn namelijk overeenkomsten, dus ze proberen op onderzoek uit te gaan.
'33 vrouwen' wordt niet heel erg spannend, maar ik vond vooral de sfeer op de boerderij erg interessant. Ook de leefwijze van deze vrouwen was erg boeiend. De vondst van de dode vrouw maakte het voor mij ook pakkend om verder te lezen. Staat dit in verband met de moord op Vanessa?
Al met al was '33 vrouwen' leuk om te lezen. Verwacht alleen geen superspannende thriller, maar eerder een mysterieus verhaal met een apart sfeertje.
Beoordeling: 3,5 ⭐️
July 20, 2021
(4.5 rounded up!!) This audiobook (& 2 Cross Farms specifically,) had me hooked from the beginning. The idea of the place sounds so safe & serene, but have the women succeeded in their founders vision?
Narrated by Candida Gubbins & Imogen Church (always 1 of my favorites,) they did a great job expressing both the tension & the tenderness this quick moving mystery is fraught with. Told through alternating chapters in the past and present, we're all trying to figure out if the new murders are connected to the old? & do either have to do with the women at 2 Cross Farms? I also thought the dynamic between Celine & Pip (& their family friend, Uma) was interesting.. I love finding myself in the middle of something totally different & realizing idk what is actually going on! This definitely did that for me, & the ending didn't disappoint.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media & Netgalley for letting me listen to this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Narrated by Candida Gubbins & Imogen Church (always 1 of my favorites,) they did a great job expressing both the tension & the tenderness this quick moving mystery is fraught with. Told through alternating chapters in the past and present, we're all trying to figure out if the new murders are connected to the old? & do either have to do with the women at 2 Cross Farms? I also thought the dynamic between Celine & Pip (& their family friend, Uma) was interesting.. I love finding myself in the middle of something totally different & realizing idk what is actually going on! This definitely did that for me, & the ending didn't disappoint.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media & Netgalley for letting me listen to this arc in exchange for an honest review.
November 24, 2020
This is a great read.
Celine and Pip have come together following the death of their mother and meet at her home in Arundel to sort out her affairs, helped by family friend Una.
On their minds is their missing sister Vanessa who was brutally murdered years ago and her killer was never found.
A body is then discovered with similarities to those of Vanessa's death so this opens up old wounds. Attention is drawn towards Two Cross Farm, which houses a women's commune and the sisters wonder if this is linked to Vanessa’s death.
We slowly find out how the commune started and the significance of the number 33.
Celine and Pip are helped by Una who has Police connections so this definitely helps the investigation.
This is a bit of a slow burner but I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Celine and Pip have come together following the death of their mother and meet at her home in Arundel to sort out her affairs, helped by family friend Una.
On their minds is their missing sister Vanessa who was brutally murdered years ago and her killer was never found.
A body is then discovered with similarities to those of Vanessa's death so this opens up old wounds. Attention is drawn towards Two Cross Farm, which houses a women's commune and the sisters wonder if this is linked to Vanessa’s death.
We slowly find out how the commune started and the significance of the number 33.
Celine and Pip are helped by Una who has Police connections so this definitely helps the investigation.
This is a bit of a slow burner but I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
November 7, 2020
Loved this atmospheric and beautifully written novel from Isabel Ashdown- a brilliantly evocative past present vibe and an addictive central theme.
Full review will be on mysteryandsuspense.com in due course.
Full review will be on mysteryandsuspense.com in due course.
November 25, 2020
Sisters Celine and Pip are at their mother’s house in Arundel to deal with her belongings and organise her funeral. Neither were close to their mother Delilah after she abandoned them but their mother’s death has brought into focus their sister Vanessa’s murder some years before. Nobody was ever charged and they desperately want closure.
When another body is found nearby in similar circumstances, the links between this death and Vanessa’s can’t be ignored – and there is a common link, the nearby women’s commune at Two Cross Farm with its 33 women and its strict code of conduct.
Helping the sisters at the property is a friend of Delilah’s and of the family, retired police detective Una. Her police connections are a great help, acting as a go-between and joining forces with Celine and Pip in their quest to get their sister’s case reopened.
33 Women is an intriguing story told over different timelines – the past history of the commune and its inhabitants is slowly revealed to show some of those same people in the present day, albeit much older. All the way through I was wondering just what exactly was happening at Two Cross Farm. They guard their secrets closely and the police in particular are not welcome at all. There was something that seemed suspicious about the whole set up particularly when it seemed they were suppressing information. It felt more like a cult, with the founding sisters structure and set routines rather than a straightforward commune. To be allowed to stay, sacrifices had to be made, each woman “must first shed their limpets”, who or whatever they may be”.
33 Women is not a fast paced thriller but instead you are drawn in by the atmospheric detail and the characterisations. Of course there are twists – with subtle strands from earlier in the story being cleverly pulled together at the end, I was left thinking ‘oh why didn’t I think of that’.
This was an interesting and enjoyable read throughout with some parts of the story being quite dark in tone. The commune aspect made it rather different from the other thrillers out there and it certainly isn’t predictable!
When another body is found nearby in similar circumstances, the links between this death and Vanessa’s can’t be ignored – and there is a common link, the nearby women’s commune at Two Cross Farm with its 33 women and its strict code of conduct.
Helping the sisters at the property is a friend of Delilah’s and of the family, retired police detective Una. Her police connections are a great help, acting as a go-between and joining forces with Celine and Pip in their quest to get their sister’s case reopened.
33 Women is an intriguing story told over different timelines – the past history of the commune and its inhabitants is slowly revealed to show some of those same people in the present day, albeit much older. All the way through I was wondering just what exactly was happening at Two Cross Farm. They guard their secrets closely and the police in particular are not welcome at all. There was something that seemed suspicious about the whole set up particularly when it seemed they were suppressing information. It felt more like a cult, with the founding sisters structure and set routines rather than a straightforward commune. To be allowed to stay, sacrifices had to be made, each woman “must first shed their limpets”, who or whatever they may be”.
33 Women is not a fast paced thriller but instead you are drawn in by the atmospheric detail and the characterisations. Of course there are twists – with subtle strands from earlier in the story being cleverly pulled together at the end, I was left thinking ‘oh why didn’t I think of that’.
This was an interesting and enjoyable read throughout with some parts of the story being quite dark in tone. The commune aspect made it rather different from the other thrillers out there and it certainly isn’t predictable!
September 3, 2021
I definitely did not guess that ending!
This book has a slow plot build - but it definitely held my interest.
Narrated by Celine and Bramble, the reader learns the history of Two Cross Farm.
Celine returns home with her sister to bury their mother - who deserted them along with their sister Vanessa when Celine was in her late teens. Forced to raise her two sisters, Celine did her best to help her younger sisters lead a happy life. As they spend time together with Pip's daughters, Celine realizes Pip hides the truth of her marriage.
Bramble and a group of women founded Two Cross Farm in the late '70s - a place for women to shed their lives to exist in a safe community free of technology and the threat of men. Peace and serenity abound - until the discovery of Robin's body. The death is ruled suspicious - and similar to Vanessa's death fifteen years earlier.
Celine and her family desperately search for the truth while Bramble desperately holds all the Farm's secrets.
Great story about women, survival and what you'll do to protect your legacy.
The narrators did an incredible job!
This book has a slow plot build - but it definitely held my interest.
Narrated by Celine and Bramble, the reader learns the history of Two Cross Farm.
Celine returns home with her sister to bury their mother - who deserted them along with their sister Vanessa when Celine was in her late teens. Forced to raise her two sisters, Celine did her best to help her younger sisters lead a happy life. As they spend time together with Pip's daughters, Celine realizes Pip hides the truth of her marriage.
Bramble and a group of women founded Two Cross Farm in the late '70s - a place for women to shed their lives to exist in a safe community free of technology and the threat of men. Peace and serenity abound - until the discovery of Robin's body. The death is ruled suspicious - and similar to Vanessa's death fifteen years earlier.
Celine and her family desperately search for the truth while Bramble desperately holds all the Farm's secrets.
Great story about women, survival and what you'll do to protect your legacy.
The narrators did an incredible job!
January 17, 2021
Actual Rating 2.5
I got this digital copy from Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Celine and Pip can't get over the death of their sister Vanessa, after 15 years they found a few links connected to her death. When a new body found which is linked to the Two Cross Farm, a neighbouring women's commune. Six sisters started this commune 40 years ago and give sanctuary to all of the women who need it. But people have their doubts about Two Cross Farm.
It took me 10 days to finish this book which is too long for me. It was so hard to get into the book, writing and atmosphere both didn't work in my favour. After the first half which was so slow-paced story finally got interesting. There were so many twists and turns but I never felt anything for any of the character so they didn't mean anything to me. I love the concept of the book and the sisterly bond but it wasn't my cup of tea.
I got this digital copy from Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Celine and Pip can't get over the death of their sister Vanessa, after 15 years they found a few links connected to her death. When a new body found which is linked to the Two Cross Farm, a neighbouring women's commune. Six sisters started this commune 40 years ago and give sanctuary to all of the women who need it. But people have their doubts about Two Cross Farm.
It took me 10 days to finish this book which is too long for me. It was so hard to get into the book, writing and atmosphere both didn't work in my favour. After the first half which was so slow-paced story finally got interesting. There were so many twists and turns but I never felt anything for any of the character so they didn't mean anything to me. I love the concept of the book and the sisterly bond but it wasn't my cup of tea.
March 10, 2022
Mind blowing novel. A must read for those who love an ending you can't EVEN BEGIN to create in your mind. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to review the audiobook. The narrators were top notch!
June 19, 2021
Really liked this though I thought a couple of times it might head off into a true cult-like tale but thankfully it didn't, nor a bunch of religious nonsense. As usual, I always enjoy this author's stories as she also grew up in London then the south coast the same as I did (though I'm now up in the northwest) !! Therefore, I know the places she writes about. However, although I've been in The Winterton Arms many times, I had no idea it was in its own little village I'd never heard of before ! I guess because it's along a main road......and many of my pals reminisce so fondly of The Black Rabbit in Arundel, whereas I hated it with a passion. I went once and refused anymore trips there again because EVERYONE chooses to sit outside and it is right on the river and you get bitten to buggery !!! Hehehe....
I liked the sisters in this tale and Una was a delight as well (though a dire detective). I found the name Seed a little off-putting cos' I just thought it was a bit daft, though. Same goes for Bramble. I'd have liked to have been told a bit more about Delilah and her life as well. There were some funny moments and also some very shocking moments so it holds your interest well.
I spotted a few errors but nothing too frightful. Some misplaced apostrophes and one missed set of speechmarks, then Sinead White's name was acknowledged twice in one list at the end. At one point Una remarks upon something she didn't know but she did as it had already been referred to in an earlier part of the book but that was all I noticed.
I believe this is the 6th book I've now read by this author and there will be more to come. Oooh, loved the cover, too.
I liked the sisters in this tale and Una was a delight as well (though a dire detective). I found the name Seed a little off-putting cos' I just thought it was a bit daft, though. Same goes for Bramble. I'd have liked to have been told a bit more about Delilah and her life as well. There were some funny moments and also some very shocking moments so it holds your interest well.
I spotted a few errors but nothing too frightful. Some misplaced apostrophes and one missed set of speechmarks, then Sinead White's name was acknowledged twice in one list at the end. At one point Una remarks upon something she didn't know but she did as it had already been referred to in an earlier part of the book but that was all I noticed.
I believe this is the 6th book I've now read by this author and there will be more to come. Oooh, loved the cover, too.
December 29, 2020
4.5⭐
I was fortunate to receive a copy of this ARC from NetGalley.
This was a very interesting, multi layered novel. Sisters Celine and Pip become absorbed trying to establish the connection between their deceased mother and sister and the women's refuge nearby.
The end was a surprise!
My favourite quote:
"Una cuts two slabs of cake and hands them to Beebee and Olive, who have returned like heat seeking missiles at the arrival of food."
I was fortunate to receive a copy of this ARC from NetGalley.
This was a very interesting, multi layered novel. Sisters Celine and Pip become absorbed trying to establish the connection between their deceased mother and sister and the women's refuge nearby.
The end was a surprise!
My favourite quote:
"Una cuts two slabs of cake and hands them to Beebee and Olive, who have returned like heat seeking missiles at the arrival of food."
August 19, 2024
AD/PR - maybe 4.5* 🤔 - 33 Women wins my favourite Isabel Ashdown book so far! With each chapter you’re just so drawn into the fascinating mystery of this cult-like closed commune of women and desperate to discover their connection to a string of bodies! I tried to put it down to sleep but couldn’t stop thinking about it and ended up reading til 3am to get answers!
33 Women follows the women of Two Cross Farm from the pov of Bramble, a founding member, from its inception in 1976 to the present day. Their aim is to build a safe haven, closed to the world and, more importantly, men. In the second pov we follow Celine in the present day after a body is discovered with eery similarities to her sister, who was killed years earlier. Both victims had strong ties to Two Cross Farm and you cannot turn the pages quick enough to find how it all fits together!
The self-sufficient and protected living of the commune on paper had me wanting to pack my bags 😂😂. However, as with any group like this, there’s an inherent danger of abuse of power. Secrets can be hidden, crimes easily committed, rules becoming stricter. I was CAPTIVATED by Two Cross Farm and could have happily spent the whole book there. Celine’s chapters raised the stakes and moved the story along, but I did have to suspend belief in how much info the police were giving, even to a retired officer, and I always wanted to be back with Bramble!
I love being immersed in a book where I have no idea what’s going on or how it will end! 33 Women nailed the brief, with engaging characters, a gripping plot, and lots of twists and surprises. The mystery and sense of foreboding around the commune was brilliant!
33 Women follows the women of Two Cross Farm from the pov of Bramble, a founding member, from its inception in 1976 to the present day. Their aim is to build a safe haven, closed to the world and, more importantly, men. In the second pov we follow Celine in the present day after a body is discovered with eery similarities to her sister, who was killed years earlier. Both victims had strong ties to Two Cross Farm and you cannot turn the pages quick enough to find how it all fits together!
The self-sufficient and protected living of the commune on paper had me wanting to pack my bags 😂😂. However, as with any group like this, there’s an inherent danger of abuse of power. Secrets can be hidden, crimes easily committed, rules becoming stricter. I was CAPTIVATED by Two Cross Farm and could have happily spent the whole book there. Celine’s chapters raised the stakes and moved the story along, but I did have to suspend belief in how much info the police were giving, even to a retired officer, and I always wanted to be back with Bramble!
I love being immersed in a book where I have no idea what’s going on or how it will end! 33 Women nailed the brief, with engaging characters, a gripping plot, and lots of twists and surprises. The mystery and sense of foreboding around the commune was brilliant!
February 21, 2022
Did I just attend Lillith fair or a burn your bra ceremony? This book definatly shows what happens when there is an estrogen overload and "empowered" women want to live among one another without men = chaos.
Basically a "cult"( even though the 2 Cross Farm claims not to be) of women houses battered and beaten women within their commune. However the founding sisters started the society under some shady and secretive terms.
Present day Celine and Pip's mother dies and they come together and discover the death of the sister Vanessa may have been a murder. Oddly enough she has the 2 Cross Farm Tattoo as does another women, Robin who turns up dead.
Usually I would not pick up a book like this, but I had used up all my Hoopla credit for the month and this was a freebie.
The book was good enough, it was pretty darn slow though--I mean--like I had it on double audio speed and was like PLEASE ...is this going to drag on any more? It felt like Christmas Eve when you are a kid---but unfortunately exciting presents are not there when you finish the book. The ending was SO far fetched like Kiersten Mogdlin far fetched (just 1 twist unlike a KM book) I don't like cult books, they are weird. Also the whole "Women and strong hear me roar " mantra that was running through the book had me consider signing up on a dating app like Tinder, Facebook Dating, Luxy, Farmers Only. (Y'all I actually took the time to google dating apps...there are some crazy ones--Luxy you have to be in the top 1%, there is sizzle for bacon lovers and even salad match) Because I feared what would happen if I remain a single girl too long--haha!
Really slow
Too much girl power
Cults are creepy
Ending Ridiculous
Basically a "cult"( even though the 2 Cross Farm claims not to be) of women houses battered and beaten women within their commune. However the founding sisters started the society under some shady and secretive terms.
Present day Celine and Pip's mother dies and they come together and discover the death of the sister Vanessa may have been a murder. Oddly enough she has the 2 Cross Farm Tattoo as does another women, Robin who turns up dead.
Usually I would not pick up a book like this, but I had used up all my Hoopla credit for the month and this was a freebie.
The book was good enough, it was pretty darn slow though--I mean--like I had it on double audio speed and was like PLEASE ...is this going to drag on any more? It felt like Christmas Eve when you are a kid---but unfortunately exciting presents are not there when you finish the book. The ending was SO far fetched like Kiersten Mogdlin far fetched (just 1 twist unlike a KM book) I don't like cult books, they are weird. Also the whole "Women and strong hear me roar " mantra that was running through the book had me consider signing up on a dating app like Tinder, Facebook Dating, Luxy, Farmers Only. (Y'all I actually took the time to google dating apps...there are some crazy ones--Luxy you have to be in the top 1%, there is sizzle for bacon lovers and even salad match) Because I feared what would happen if I remain a single girl too long--haha!
Really slow
Too much girl power
Cults are creepy
Ending Ridiculous
December 4, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.
Wow! Just wow! I can honestly say this is one of the least predictable books I've ever read. There were twists and turns throughout that I never saw coming, but there was a huge twist at the end that blew my mind.
33 Women is told from multiple viewpoints and has an alternating timeline. First, we have the story of Celine and her sister Pip who are drawn to the small community that their mother lived in after her untimely death. While they are there, they learn of a woman's body being found that eerily resembles the way their murdered sister Vanessa's body had been found years earlier. The second story involves a woman's commune close to their mother's home. You know from the beginning that the two stories will intersect somehow at some point and the story begins to unfold and the two different scenarios begin to blend together in such a mesmerizing way. I finished this book in a couple of days it was so spellbinding. I won't reveal any more as it's best to go into this not knowing much.
What plays out is a twisted tale of secrets and lies that will have you guessing every step of the way. All in all, this was a 4.5 star book. Average narration, but listenable. The writing is what holds on to you.
Wow! Just wow! I can honestly say this is one of the least predictable books I've ever read. There were twists and turns throughout that I never saw coming, but there was a huge twist at the end that blew my mind.
33 Women is told from multiple viewpoints and has an alternating timeline. First, we have the story of Celine and her sister Pip who are drawn to the small community that their mother lived in after her untimely death. While they are there, they learn of a woman's body being found that eerily resembles the way their murdered sister Vanessa's body had been found years earlier. The second story involves a woman's commune close to their mother's home. You know from the beginning that the two stories will intersect somehow at some point and the story begins to unfold and the two different scenarios begin to blend together in such a mesmerizing way. I finished this book in a couple of days it was so spellbinding. I won't reveal any more as it's best to go into this not knowing much.
What plays out is a twisted tale of secrets and lies that will have you guessing every step of the way. All in all, this was a 4.5 star book. Average narration, but listenable. The writing is what holds on to you.
January 2, 2021
Thank you to the publisher for my copy of this one - all opinions are my own.
Isabel Ashdown is quickly becoming one of my favorite go-to authors to read - this is my second book by her and I am hooked on the wonderfully unique plots with the fantastically colorful characters that will suck you in from the start and hold your attention while you devour stories whole.
This one has all the ingredients for a must read thriller - strong, yet flawed female lead characters, unsolved murders, a cult-like group of women with a secretive past.....no wonder I was literally unable to set this book down once I started it.
Fast paced, atmospheric and unrelenting in the unfolding drama, this was the exact right kind of read for when you want to disappear into a story and waste a day away. I won't offer any spoilers, but I will say that I cannot wait for whatever Isabel writes next....I'll be first in line for a copy.
A must read for lovers of a good thriller and domestic drama!
Isabel Ashdown is quickly becoming one of my favorite go-to authors to read - this is my second book by her and I am hooked on the wonderfully unique plots with the fantastically colorful characters that will suck you in from the start and hold your attention while you devour stories whole.
This one has all the ingredients for a must read thriller - strong, yet flawed female lead characters, unsolved murders, a cult-like group of women with a secretive past.....no wonder I was literally unable to set this book down once I started it.
Fast paced, atmospheric and unrelenting in the unfolding drama, this was the exact right kind of read for when you want to disappear into a story and waste a day away. I won't offer any spoilers, but I will say that I cannot wait for whatever Isabel writes next....I'll be first in line for a copy.
A must read for lovers of a good thriller and domestic drama!
February 22, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up. Celine and Pip are sisters who return to their late mother’s home to clear it out. Being together again reminds them of their middle sister, Vanessa, who was murdered years ago, her killer never found.
While they are at their mother’s house another dead woman is discovered, in similar circumstances to their sister. The police reopen the case and a small community of women nearby who live at Two Cross Farm fall under suspicion. Celine and Pop need to find out more, is this finally the chance to put their sister to rest?
An interesting enough thriller, communes always fascinate me, which kept me entertained but didn’t have the wow factor. I loved Isabel Ashdown’s literary work, but her thrillers don’t pop as much as these. However it’s very well written, with strong characters and a satisfying ending, so I would certainly recommend it.
While they are at their mother’s house another dead woman is discovered, in similar circumstances to their sister. The police reopen the case and a small community of women nearby who live at Two Cross Farm fall under suspicion. Celine and Pop need to find out more, is this finally the chance to put their sister to rest?
An interesting enough thriller, communes always fascinate me, which kept me entertained but didn’t have the wow factor. I loved Isabel Ashdown’s literary work, but her thrillers don’t pop as much as these. However it’s very well written, with strong characters and a satisfying ending, so I would certainly recommend it.
March 15, 2022
This was not what I expected—although I checked it out after reading about it…murder of one suddenly links to not one but two previous murders all tied to five missing women from 1976 and a death of a mother along with the dynamics of disfunction between sisters, mothers and daughters juxtaposed with a farm where 33 women live—one gets the feeling that the farm is a bit like Hotel California—one can check out, but never really leave.
Not the story I expected, but the one I read is so much better! I enjoyed listening to this one while I do more sorting in the studio and worked on a crocheting project. The characters are real, the movement and pacing of the story is sound and I finish this one with a sign of contentment.
For me, that is what matters most.
Not the story I expected, but the one I read is so much better! I enjoyed listening to this one while I do more sorting in the studio and worked on a crocheting project. The characters are real, the movement and pacing of the story is sound and I finish this one with a sign of contentment.
For me, that is what matters most.
June 19, 2021
Cult or community?
As a result of the death of their estranged mother, sisters Cecelia and Pip are left to sort out her estate and her funeral. Their meeting up is bittersweet as their third sister, Vanessa isn’t there. She had been brutally murdered many years previousl in an unsolved case.
As they search through their mother’s possessions, their attention is drawn to a women’s community next door at Two Cross Farm, where their sister had previously stayed.
When a woman’s body is found in circumstances similar to those of their sister’s death, they decide to investigate more closely and to force the Police to reopen the investigation into Vanessa’s murder.
So, is this community actually a cult? Who are the Founding Sisters and what is the significance of the number 33?
Well, the clues and answers are all there, but you have to pay close attention. I obviously didn’t, because I was totally taken aback on a couple of occasions by the twists, turns and reveals in this story.
The author has created a thriller that will literally keep you guessing right to the very end.
The setting, seemingly idyllic, hides many dark and gruesome secrets. And the residents, all there seeking sanctuary from the many harsh realities of their lives, close ranks when they think they, or their way of life is threatened.
This is a well crafted psychological thriller. The main characters are three-dimensional and believable. And the supporting characters are true-to-life.
My one question, as the reader, is whether or not the ending provides satisfaction and the justice I think the characters deserve… The jury’s still out on that one.
As a result of the death of their estranged mother, sisters Cecelia and Pip are left to sort out her estate and her funeral. Their meeting up is bittersweet as their third sister, Vanessa isn’t there. She had been brutally murdered many years previousl in an unsolved case.
As they search through their mother’s possessions, their attention is drawn to a women’s community next door at Two Cross Farm, where their sister had previously stayed.
When a woman’s body is found in circumstances similar to those of their sister’s death, they decide to investigate more closely and to force the Police to reopen the investigation into Vanessa’s murder.
So, is this community actually a cult? Who are the Founding Sisters and what is the significance of the number 33?
Well, the clues and answers are all there, but you have to pay close attention. I obviously didn’t, because I was totally taken aback on a couple of occasions by the twists, turns and reveals in this story.
The author has created a thriller that will literally keep you guessing right to the very end.
The setting, seemingly idyllic, hides many dark and gruesome secrets. And the residents, all there seeking sanctuary from the many harsh realities of their lives, close ranks when they think they, or their way of life is threatened.
This is a well crafted psychological thriller. The main characters are three-dimensional and believable. And the supporting characters are true-to-life.
My one question, as the reader, is whether or not the ending provides satisfaction and the justice I think the characters deserve… The jury’s still out on that one.
January 18, 2021
When Celine and Pip’s dysfunctional mother dies, they meet up to organise her funeral and deal with the estate, bringing back memories of their sister, Vanessa, who died in mysterious circumstances 15 years previously. Another girl is found dead which seems to echo Vanessa’s death and both women have a connection to a nearby commune led by the enigmatic Seed.
This is an intriguing and absorbing tale. It’s not a fast paced read. It’s a slow burner, gradually drawing the reader in, revealing little clues along the way. It’s told via two voices, that of Celine, who is desperate to find out what happened to her sister all those years ago, and that of Bramble, one of the founders of the commune. It also goes backwards and forwards in time, interweaving the strands, and then travelling towards the big reveal at the end. And what a reveal it is! It could be deemed slightly incredulous but all I can say is please read the book and make your own mind up! It’s well worth the effort.
This is an intriguing and absorbing tale. It’s not a fast paced read. It’s a slow burner, gradually drawing the reader in, revealing little clues along the way. It’s told via two voices, that of Celine, who is desperate to find out what happened to her sister all those years ago, and that of Bramble, one of the founders of the commune. It also goes backwards and forwards in time, interweaving the strands, and then travelling towards the big reveal at the end. And what a reveal it is! It could be deemed slightly incredulous but all I can say is please read the book and make your own mind up! It’s well worth the effort.
February 6, 2022
A cult, a murder mystery, and sooo much juicy drama and secrets (and another murder mystery!!) wrapped up into this pretty little package of a book! It's so good, u have to read it to believe me. 4 gold stars 🤩
Thanks netgalley for giving me an early copy so that I can share my thoughts and opinions with y'all 🧡
Thanks netgalley for giving me an early copy so that I can share my thoughts and opinions with y'all 🧡
January 9, 2024
3.5 stars.
My first book of Isabel Ashdown and the end was everything.
I struggled to get into it for 20 days but finished 100 pages on the last day.
The twist was unlike any other. I didn't see it coming. I thought about every single possibility but not his. Let me know if you did figure it out or not.
.
At one point, I wanted to live at Two Cross Farm too, it sounds so peaceful and out of the world. Like how amazing it would be if there only be women without worrying about the world. The setting of the story and their past traumas, small details about Celine and Pip and their similarities with women at Two Cross Farm were amazingly unbelievable.
.
I definitely will be reading more of Isabel's books now even though I find it hard to focus on this genre this one convinced me.
My first book of Isabel Ashdown and the end was everything.
I struggled to get into it for 20 days but finished 100 pages on the last day.
The twist was unlike any other. I didn't see it coming. I thought about every single possibility but not his. Let me know if you did figure it out or not.
.
At one point, I wanted to live at Two Cross Farm too, it sounds so peaceful and out of the world. Like how amazing it would be if there only be women without worrying about the world. The setting of the story and their past traumas, small details about Celine and Pip and their similarities with women at Two Cross Farm were amazingly unbelievable.
.
I definitely will be reading more of Isabel's books now even though I find it hard to focus on this genre this one convinced me.
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