The Disenchanted Widow by Christina McKenna is a 2014 publication. This is a book I picked up from the Kindle Lending Library. I had no idea what to expect when I started the book, but even so, I couldn't have guessed this story would play out quite like it did. When Bessie's husband dies suddenly, she is free to go her own way, but she also needs to get moving. It would seem her husband's involvement with certain people has her in a little bit of danger. With her son in tow she heads out for a surprise visit to her sister's, but car trouble has her stranded in the small community of Tailorstown. Logan, an artist, is back in Tailorstown to help his mother and keep them out of debt. This means associating himself with the IRA who is paying him to forge paintings. We know that in some way or other Bessie and Logan's path are going cross, but how their lives intersect is an pretty interesting story. Tailorstown is just a dot on a map, but the community is, shall we say... a little odd. But, Bessie feels this might be the perfect place to lay low for awhile. She takes a job working for the local priest, never realizing how close her nemesis was or what lay beneath the slow moving and working class village. Bessie's son Herkie, is a funny nine year old who sees and absorbs more than people realize. His character is funny, but sincere, and he ends up stealing the show. While this is a work of fiction, the author based portions of the story of true events , which was quite interesting since I didn't see that disclaimer until the end of the book. The story is a slower mover in the beginning and the style of writing, which uses a lot of dialect slowed me down in the beginning, but don't be fooled by the pace. It is a suspenseful story with unexpected events and plot twist. I enjoyed the quirky town folk and the understated, rather wry humor peppered throughout. I was afraid things were not going to turn out so well, for Bessie and Herkie, it turned out much better than I could have hoped for. This one is a little different. Perhaps being a little more refreshed about Ireland's history in the early eighties would have helped a bit, but overall I thought the story interesting and definitely different from my usual reading choices. 3.5 rounded to 4. A fluffy little book in which people get rewarded for doing the nice thing, although it doesn't seem like that at the outset. Set in a tiny town in Ireland in early 1980s, the 'Troubles' with bombings and hungerstrikes are the bleak backdrop. The town is seemingly insulated from the ugliness in Belfast and is picturesque, with hills and gardens. The two main characters are in Tailorstown to get away from a Belfast thug, the Dentist, who has a hold over each one. The widow of the title is a hard woman who has had a hard life and is looking for a fresh start and a way to make a living after her drunkard of an abusive husband dies after stealing money from the Dentist. Naturally, he thinks the wife has the money and will kill her to get it back. While fleeing Belfast, her car breaks down in Tailorstown where we meet the cast of (stereo)typical small town personalities. She is raw and conniving and you feel a little embarassed for her. But it all works out ok in the end.
What do You think about The Disenchanted Widow (2013)?
Different then my usual read but very interesting, loved all the drama and real life mystery.
—Aprileson
A lovely sequel to The Misremembered Man. This brings the IRA to the village.
—Rev379
A lot like the 44 Scotland Street series by Alexander McCall Smith.
—aaron
This was OK for me. Not sure I would recommend it.
—laur2
