Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14257 in Books
• Published on: 2005-08-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 124 pages

Synopsis
In the small Hampshire village of Sowerbridge, Irish labourer Patrick O'Riordan has been arrested for the brutal murder of elderly Lavinia Fanshaw and her live-in nurse, Dorothy Jenkins. As shock turns to fury, the village residents form a united front against Patrick's parents and cousin, who report incidents of vicious threats and violence. But friend and neighbour Siobhan Lavenham remains convinced that Patrick has fallen victim to a prejudiced investigation and, putting her own position within the bigoted community in serious jeopardy, stands firmly by his family in defence of the O'Riordan name. Days before the trial, terrible secrets about the O'Riordans' past are revealed to Siobhan, and the family's only supporter is forced to question her loyalties. Could Patrick be capable of murder after all? Could his parents' tales of attacks be devious fabrications? And if so, what other lies lurk beneath the surface of their world? As the truth rapidly unfurls, it seems that Sowerbridge residents need to be very afraid. For beneath a cunning facade, someone's chilling ambition is about to ignite ...

Customer Reviews

I'm putting this straight into the recycle bin !
This is an abysmal book, filled with jarring writing such as 'it was axiomatic' or 'the room invariably induced a sort of spiritual claustrophobia', worse still is the thought of an Irish itinerant saying it was 'a kosher contract' or 'she and I were mates'.It shows the author really hasn't thought about whether or not her characters sound authentic. Most Irish people would never use that kind of jargon.Badly written, not credible, brave of the author to attempt to tackle the subject matter but I get the feeling that this was written in a rush without any real thought to making it flow. It could work but for me it certainly didn't. Such a disappointment.

The Tinder Box
“The Tinder Box” is a short novella by the fabulous Minette Walters and by her own admission in the notes at the start of the book revisits some of the themes of prejudice, bigotry and vigilantism that she has returned to in other books of hers.

As you would expect in a novella everything is compacted here and this makes the story all the more direct and to the point. There’s no time wasted in lengthy descriptions or passages taken with only getting to know the characters. We’re immediately plunged into the crime and the subsequent punishment meted out, rightly or wrongly.

Siobhan Lavenham is the Irish lady living with her husband and two small boys in the small rural Hampshire village of Sowerbridge. When another village resident, Lavinia Fanshaw, an old lady and her live-in nurse are murdered the eyes of suspicion fall on Patrick O’Riordan an Irish labourer. As Patrick is taken into custody to stand trial the other villagers begin to turn against Patrick’s parents. Malicious phone calls to the O’Riordans are made and vicious graffiti starts to appear on their property. Only Siobhan appears to stand by them and she is convinced the authorities are ignoring the threats and fears that the attacks on the O’Riordans may get more serious.

This is the first novella of Minette Walters’ that I have read so I was a little surprised at how condensed the book is. Obviously by its very nature a novella is short but as I enjoy her writing so much I was disappointed with the overall content. That said, you do have to respect the book for the skill it is written with and how Mrs Walters has pared the book down to its bare bones and yet has still crafted a very effecting and thoughtful composition.

Short, sharp, shocking
I loved this. After being a bit disappointed with her last few books, I came nervously to this, but needn't really have worried. It's a novella encompassing several simialr themes to those of her latest work, but it does it better and in less space, too. It's short, sharp, shocking and very, very good. Being so short, it forces Minette to hone this prose-style of hers so that every word is deftly place and has its effect, moving the story along smoothly. It's a masterclass of succinctity, and I enjoyed it very much indeed. I reccomend it highly. All I can say to people who were confused by the occasional time-shifts is, What? Come on! It's hardly rocket science to be able to hold two temporal strands in your mind - and the way that they toy with one another as Walters reveals the mystery is just great. Get this.