Book Description Review “An entertainment. . . . [The princesses] are written with a republican zest, made all the keener by the knowledge that royalty, for all its anachronistic irrelevance, sells.”―The New York Times“As ever, Black’s gifts of rich description and deft characterization are on display. . . . When you’re done binge-watching The Crown, pick up this multifaceted wartime thriller.” ―Kirkus Reviews“Tantalizing. . . . Black is a pleasure to read, particularly his descriptions of the lackadaisically maintained estate [and] the young royals’ developing personalities. . . . [The Secret Guests] takes the time to observe the specific ways human weakness and caprice can affect history.” ―Air Mail “The Downton Abbey of suspense novels . . . brushed with the fairy tale dust of royalty.”―KATU Read more About the Author Benjamin Black is the pen name of the Man Booker Prize-winning novelist John Banville. Black’s books include The Black-Eyed Blonde, Christine Falls, The Silver Swan, among others. He lives in Dublin. Read more Customers Review: This is not a book for people who want a commercial pot-boiler. It is precisely and beautifully written, funny and human. I don’t find it plodding, as does publisher’s weekly (who’d he offend there?) but completely interesting down to the last punctuation mark. Benjamin Black is moving closer to his other more brilliant literary incarnation yet keeping the grit.
Unlike the usual rather sweet accounts of Queen Elizabeth II’s and her sister’s childhoods, this tale has a mordant, menacing tone. Set in neutral Ireland, the princesses are smuggled into a remote country estate to protect them from the blitz and the Battle of Britain. The location is hardly ideal. Shady officials, ill-prepared guards, and a cast of Irish characters who may or may not be threatening keep the story moving along. The different personalities of Elizabeth and Margaret are somewhat exaggerated, but foretell how they will be as grown women. A pretty entertaining read.
Benjamin Black portrays the princesses in this novel in a way that rings true. I thought it would be impossible, but when they say or do something, it is believable. I won’t spoil anything by giving examples, but it’s true.
The plot of this novel was intriguing, but the characters weren’t. Not one was like able, so it was difficult to care what happened to them. I hope that if the princesses really were spirited away from London during the Blitz, they had warmer and more competent caregivers than the ones portrayed in the book.
My expectations were totally unfilled.Expecting another novel like Dr. Quirke’s. It’s a very weak novel.Didn’t like it, was expecting a better novel.Sorry B. Black!
Like the possible scenario of the events that occurred in the book. I enjoyed the historical background of World War II. I found some the character interactions were not fully developed. I was disappointed with how different situations were left unresolved at the end of the book.
Mostly a dull accounting of something that could’ve been interesting.
Seemed pretty weak to me. Not as interesting as I hoped |
32 reviews