“Small Bomb at Dimperley” by Lissa Evans – Book Review @DoubledayUK #BlogTour @RandomTTours #HistoricalFiction #SmallBombAtDimperley @LissaKEvans #BookReview

A historical fiction tale about a family and their country house needing to change with the times in the aftermath of the Second World War.

Dimperley is a unique, some might say strange, old manor house in Buckinghamshire.  With its many architectural styles, its turrets, bays, pillars, tunnels, topiary, copper dome, and moat, it was quite an eyesore – but its history and its bizarreness added to its appeal.

Home to the Vere-Thissett family since 1404, the manor has fallen on hard times. World War II has just ended. The eldest Vere-Thissett son was a victim of the fighting. The middle son was struck down with ‘brain fever’ (encephalitis) at the age of ten and suffered from brain damage as a result. That left the youngest son, Valentine, age 24, to take up the reins which were now his legacy. A legacy that he did not want, but could not refuse.

“a millstone rather than a manor”

Just de-mobbed, Valentine returns to his ancestral pile to find it in extremely poor repair. Also, he finds that the once plentiful staff have been reduced to only a gardener, and a housekeeper. His widowed mother, his sister-in-law, his two teenage nieces, and his uncle are the only residents now. His eccentric uncle, who is writing Dimperley’s memoirs, has a secretary named Zena who travels from the village with her three-year old daughter on a daily basis.

Zena adores her daughter, Allison, and has become quite fond of the old manor house. Never really having had a home of her own, Zena cannot imagine how Valentine feels about the place. Her loyalty, intelligence, and efficiency are just what Dimperley needs.

Irene, Valentine’s mother, is struggling to accept the social change that has come about since the war. She is a stickler for appearances, tradition, and formality. Meanwhile, her granddaughters who were sent to live in the United States for the duration of the war, are experiencing severe culture shock at being back at Dimperley.

Meanwhile, the old manor is getting so dilapidated that immediate repairs must be done. Death duties and other family debts have left the family extremely ‘cash-poor’. The only way to raise some much needed money is to open the house to the public. An idea that is anathema to Irene, the formidable Lady Vere-Thissett.

Although I struggled a bit to get in to this novel, I’m SO happy I persevered. The Vere-Thissett family grew on me, and now I wish I could spend some more time with them.

A love story rendered with humour and poignancy, it was a very enjoyable read with an ending that tied up all the loose ends in a very satisfying manner.  Fans of “Downton Abbey” or the works of P.G. Wodehouse will probably enjoy it as much as I did.

This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Doubleday UK via Anne Cater.   It will be published by Doubleday UK on September 5, 2024 and will be available on Amazon.co.uk on October 29, 2024.

ISBN: ‎ 9780857528292 –   320 pages

LISSA EVANS is an iconic director, producer and author of historical fiction with a devoted fan base. She has written books for both adults and children, including the bestselling Old Baggage, Their Finest Hour and a Half, longlisted for the Orange Prize, Small Change for Stuart, shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and the Costa Book Awards amongst others, and Crooked Heart, longlisted for the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction.

Connect with Lissa Evans via Twitter ; Instagram ; or visit her website.