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The Hamilton Trilogy #2
Goodbye Hamilton
The second volume of a Catherine Cookson trilogy, following "Hamilton". Freed at last from a disastrous marriage, Maisie had also become a bestselling author with her first book - about Hamilton, the remarkable horse who existed only in her imagination, and was her guide, philosopher and friend.
290 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1985
19 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Cookson
500 books686 followersCatherine Cookson was born in Tyne Dock, the illegitimate daughter of a poverty-stricken woman, Kate, who Catherine believed was her older sister. Catherine began work in service but eventually moved south to Hastings, where she met and married Tom Cookson, a local grammar-school master.
Although she was originally acclaimed as a regional writer - her novel The Round Tower won the Winifred Holtby Award for the best regional novel of 1968 - her readership quickly spread throughout the world, and her many best-selling novels established her as one of the most popular contemporary woman novelist. She received an OBE in 1985, was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1993, and was appointed an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford, in 1997.
For many years she lived near Newcastle upon Tyne.
Although she was originally acclaimed as a regional writer - her novel The Round Tower won the Winifred Holtby Award for the best regional novel of 1968 - her readership quickly spread throughout the world, and her many best-selling novels established her as one of the most popular contemporary woman novelist. She received an OBE in 1985, was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1993, and was appointed an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford, in 1997.
For many years she lived near Newcastle upon Tyne.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 27, 2016
This book pretty much picks off where the last one left off. It starts with Maisie & Nardy's wedding day. But unfortunately their happiness does not last long before tragedy strikes.
Howard comes back for revenge. First he targets Masie's lovely dog Sandy and then he goes a step further and sets fire to the house he thinks should be his when Maisie visits her family.
She starts seeing Hamilton again when things start to go wrong and he's only gone and got married! Still liked the characters in this but was disappointed in Gran, just like Maisie was, when she was mean to Janet. And I think we are going to be seeing alot more of new character Harold in the next book, since it's named after him.
Really loving Cookson's books, for years I wasn't really interested despite my little sister having most of them.
Howard comes back for revenge. First he targets Masie's lovely dog Sandy and then he goes a step further and sets fire to the house he thinks should be his when Maisie visits her family.
She starts seeing Hamilton again when things start to go wrong and he's only gone and got married! Still liked the characters in this but was disappointed in Gran, just like Maisie was, when she was mean to Janet. And I think we are going to be seeing alot more of new character Harold in the next book, since it's named after him.
Really loving Cookson's books, for years I wasn't really interested despite my little sister having most of them.
November 4, 2020
Goodbye Hamilton
Mental Health and Assault trigger warnings:
Thoughts: you get to see life after what should be the happy ever after. We get to see how life actually gets in the way of our plans. This is what Catherine does better than anyone else.
Synopsis:
We start with Maisie’s marriage and how happy she is. Nardy and her making a great memory together. We have Maisie moving in with Nardy and her going out of her way to make the housekeeper at ease with her.
Even learning the woman’s life story.
Maisie gets sick and the nearby doctor offends her. Tainting her little world. Nardy finds out and eats the doctor.
Nardy takes Maisie to meet his mother. She is very off beat and crude. This puts Maisie on her back foot.
Maisie is hurt by Nardy’s mothers words, both boys ignore them. Maisie tries to move past it. They take his brother Tommy to Newcastle where they have New Year with Maisie’s step family.
Dr Kane comes round to see Maisie and expresses his concern about her appendix too after hearing the doctors story.
Maisie’s appendix bursts and she is rushed to hospital during dinner. She is there seven days. Four days in she starts to worry about her family keeping secrets. Once at home she discovered Sandy was taken for four days and tortured. He is left badly scarred.
Gran and others think it’s Stickle and want her to return to London. She says until her and the dog are stable.
Back in London Gran and Georgie come to visit the same weekend that Nardy’s mother is visiting. Nardy warns Maise about her affects on Tim.
Gran and Maisie put Tommy’s mum in her place. Awhile later Tim’s mother passes on leaving him a rich man. Maisie is shocked by his actions.
Tommy reveals how his mum was rich and it deprived him for years. How she belittled him and treated him. Nardy takes charge.
They get a call that Gran is not well and they need to see her. They travel up to see her, when they run into Stickle driving the taxis. Nardy protects her and takes her away but they are both rattled. At her old house she is welcomed warmly by the kids and George’s wife.
They walk to Grans where she sees that she is really ill. George gives Maisie a warm welcome and she is met by the same of the doctor. Seeing her Gran like that is almost soul destroying for her.
Maisie goes back to her old home and has Christmas dinner with George’s family. Not before Tommy let’s her know he loves her and she in her arrival let’s him know that she loves Nardy.
They play monopoly before going to bed. In the middle of the night Maisie is wakened by her dog to discover a fire. George gets them out leaving Kitty, George, Nardy and Tommy gravely hurt. She can not cope with it. When they all think Stickle did it then it turns out to not be him at all.
The youngest boy Neil that belongs to Stickler tells police his dad and brother did it. They burnt the house down and made people think he was unwell. The boys mother was at her fathers funeral in Middlesbrough.
They arrest and search Sticklers home. There they find the evidence. The older brother confirms his younger ones story.
Kitty is awake and is doing well. Nardy is doing okay and Hamilton is supporting Maisie. She goes to see her old GP who is gentle with her. Mary and George take the news reasonably well about Stickler. George being angry.
They know they are in for a long road.
Maisie stops in at the church on the way back to her Grans. She has very little to eat.
In court Stickler loses control and ends up taunting Maisie. He gets twelve years and Maisie passes out. When she comes to and she learns of the boy going to court.
She travels to the hospital and learns that Tommy is leaving the company and can’t bare to see Nardy. He goes back to London. Maisie is surprised when he tells her he has another 2-3 weeks to go. He gives her funny stories about the man next to him. He tells her that he prefers her with Hamilton and Begonia around.
Nardy comes home but grows weaker. Doctor has told her to not tell Nardy she knows about his heart. He has visitors and work daily. Harold is taught French. He grows close to Maisie. Both Gran and Nardy suggest she adopt him. That’s his final wish.
Nardy passes and Gran comes to be with her but ends up fighting with Janet. Gran leaves and Maisie takes Harold in for Christmas. Maisie is heart broken.
Maisie passes the next few months taking care of Harold. She gets him into a private school and he says mostly with her. His Gran still says words that shock her yet she continues to mother him. She goes to lengths to educate him.
Tommy comes back from his trip and opens his head to her. She grieves for Nardy when she reads a letter asking him to take care of her for him.
In the end she has Harold and Tommy. She says goodbye to Hamilton who leaves forever.
Mental Health and Assault trigger warnings:
Thoughts: you get to see life after what should be the happy ever after. We get to see how life actually gets in the way of our plans. This is what Catherine does better than anyone else.
Synopsis:
We start with Maisie’s marriage and how happy she is. Nardy and her making a great memory together. We have Maisie moving in with Nardy and her going out of her way to make the housekeeper at ease with her.
Even learning the woman’s life story.
Maisie gets sick and the nearby doctor offends her. Tainting her little world. Nardy finds out and eats the doctor.
Nardy takes Maisie to meet his mother. She is very off beat and crude. This puts Maisie on her back foot.
Maisie is hurt by Nardy’s mothers words, both boys ignore them. Maisie tries to move past it. They take his brother Tommy to Newcastle where they have New Year with Maisie’s step family.
Dr Kane comes round to see Maisie and expresses his concern about her appendix too after hearing the doctors story.
Maisie’s appendix bursts and she is rushed to hospital during dinner. She is there seven days. Four days in she starts to worry about her family keeping secrets. Once at home she discovered Sandy was taken for four days and tortured. He is left badly scarred.
Gran and others think it’s Stickle and want her to return to London. She says until her and the dog are stable.
Back in London Gran and Georgie come to visit the same weekend that Nardy’s mother is visiting. Nardy warns Maise about her affects on Tim.
Gran and Maisie put Tommy’s mum in her place. Awhile later Tim’s mother passes on leaving him a rich man. Maisie is shocked by his actions.
Tommy reveals how his mum was rich and it deprived him for years. How she belittled him and treated him. Nardy takes charge.
They get a call that Gran is not well and they need to see her. They travel up to see her, when they run into Stickle driving the taxis. Nardy protects her and takes her away but they are both rattled. At her old house she is welcomed warmly by the kids and George’s wife.
They walk to Grans where she sees that she is really ill. George gives Maisie a warm welcome and she is met by the same of the doctor. Seeing her Gran like that is almost soul destroying for her.
Maisie goes back to her old home and has Christmas dinner with George’s family. Not before Tommy let’s her know he loves her and she in her arrival let’s him know that she loves Nardy.
They play monopoly before going to bed. In the middle of the night Maisie is wakened by her dog to discover a fire. George gets them out leaving Kitty, George, Nardy and Tommy gravely hurt. She can not cope with it. When they all think Stickle did it then it turns out to not be him at all.
The youngest boy Neil that belongs to Stickler tells police his dad and brother did it. They burnt the house down and made people think he was unwell. The boys mother was at her fathers funeral in Middlesbrough.
They arrest and search Sticklers home. There they find the evidence. The older brother confirms his younger ones story.
Kitty is awake and is doing well. Nardy is doing okay and Hamilton is supporting Maisie. She goes to see her old GP who is gentle with her. Mary and George take the news reasonably well about Stickler. George being angry.
They know they are in for a long road.
Maisie stops in at the church on the way back to her Grans. She has very little to eat.
In court Stickler loses control and ends up taunting Maisie. He gets twelve years and Maisie passes out. When she comes to and she learns of the boy going to court.
She travels to the hospital and learns that Tommy is leaving the company and can’t bare to see Nardy. He goes back to London. Maisie is surprised when he tells her he has another 2-3 weeks to go. He gives her funny stories about the man next to him. He tells her that he prefers her with Hamilton and Begonia around.
Nardy comes home but grows weaker. Doctor has told her to not tell Nardy she knows about his heart. He has visitors and work daily. Harold is taught French. He grows close to Maisie. Both Gran and Nardy suggest she adopt him. That’s his final wish.
Nardy passes and Gran comes to be with her but ends up fighting with Janet. Gran leaves and Maisie takes Harold in for Christmas. Maisie is heart broken.
Maisie passes the next few months taking care of Harold. She gets him into a private school and he says mostly with her. His Gran still says words that shock her yet she continues to mother him. She goes to lengths to educate him.
Tommy comes back from his trip and opens his head to her. She grieves for Nardy when she reads a letter asking him to take care of her for him.
In the end she has Harold and Tommy. She says goodbye to Hamilton who leaves forever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2017
An excellent fun read. Maisie, a gifted author is haunted and stalked by her sadistic ex-husband. She is now remarried to a very kind man and is living in London. Maisie's novels are about her imaginary friend Hamilton who has been a companion and mentor all through her difficult childhood and first marriage. This book can be funny, frightening and sad all at once. All of the characters lives change when Maisie returns for a visit in her old hometown Fallmouth, when her ex husband sets on fire the home they are staying at. This is a very fast moving novel. I enjoyed it thoroughly , although towards the end I had the feeling I may have already read it. In any case it was good all over again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2025
Great book. But you must read the first one to understand everything. Love the characters....real and the not so real. I laughed, cried, rolled my eyes, and cheered. A different emotion on every page. I'm jumping into the final book immediately!
November 2, 2017
Enjoyable and satisfying.
July 11, 2020
Much better print size.
February 15, 2022
Enjoyable light read with a touch of fantasy.
July 11, 2022
The most humane book I've ever read
June 28, 2020
A really good read and follow up to Hamilton. Taking us from the 1970s into the 1980s. Maisie at last finds happiness with Nardy……..
Synopsis:
It seemed the clouds that had darkened so much of Maisie's early life had really cleared away. Freed at last from a disastrous marriage, she had also become a best-selling author with her very first book: all about Hamilton, the remarkable horse who existed only in her imagination, but had nonetheless proved to be a real guide, philosopher and friend over many years.
Now she was to be married again, and Hamilton marked the occasion by taking a wife himself -- a mare called Begonia.
So the outlook was fair; but perhaps Maisie was destined never to know happiness untouched by sorrow; and certainly the next few years would bring their share of fresh troubles. Luckily Hamilton and Begonia would be there to provide support in winning through...
Again you laugh out loud at the antics of Hamilton and Begonia and this one did make me cry and I loved Harold and the happiness he brought with him to Maisie and her beloved Nardy.
Synopsis:
It seemed the clouds that had darkened so much of Maisie's early life had really cleared away. Freed at last from a disastrous marriage, she had also become a best-selling author with her very first book: all about Hamilton, the remarkable horse who existed only in her imagination, but had nonetheless proved to be a real guide, philosopher and friend over many years.
Now she was to be married again, and Hamilton marked the occasion by taking a wife himself -- a mare called Begonia.
So the outlook was fair; but perhaps Maisie was destined never to know happiness untouched by sorrow; and certainly the next few years would bring their share of fresh troubles. Luckily Hamilton and Begonia would be there to provide support in winning through...
Again you laugh out loud at the antics of Hamilton and Begonia and this one did make me cry and I loved Harold and the happiness he brought with him to Maisie and her beloved Nardy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2008
This is the second of the Hamilton triology. Not one of my favourites and only read because of the author.
Back Cover Blurb:
Freed at last from a disastrous marriage, Maisie had also become a bestselling author with her first book - about Hamilton, the remarkable horse who existed only in her imagination.
Back Cover Blurb:
Freed at last from a disastrous marriage, Maisie had also become a bestselling author with her first book - about Hamilton, the remarkable horse who existed only in her imagination.
May 18, 2012
I read all of Catherine Cookson's books some years ago and enjoyed them immensley. I recently re-read all of them and find that on a second look I found them all so very predictable, and was rather disappointed. However I'm sure that it is my tastes that have changed not the calibre of her story telling.
July 30, 2008
This is the sequel to her novel HAMILTON. Together they are
a good read. I think I liked this one a little better.
a good read. I think I liked this one a little better.
September 24, 2010
Good book, again a sad story, but alot happier then the book before it.
Looking forward to see how Harold gets on.
Looking forward to see how Harold gets on.
June 18, 2012
Sad but easy read.
August 9, 2013
Sad but likeable
October 12, 2014
ok book
March 6, 2016
Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews