Moving: The Richard & Judy bestseller

Jenny Eclair

Jul 2015 · Hachette UK

About this eBook

Don't miss the unforgettable new novel from Jenny Eclair - INHERITANCE is out now
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'Both heart-rending and compelling' Clare Mackintosh
'I loved it SO MUCH' Marian Keyes
'It occupied my mind constantly' Jo Brand

It only took one night to tear a family apart.

Artist and illustrator Edwina Spinner used to have a busy family life. Now she lives alone, in a house that has grown too big for her. She has decided to sell it. As Edwina takes the estate agent from room to room, she finds herself transported back to her life as a young mother. Back to her twins, Rowena and Charlie, and a stepson she cannot bring herself to mention by name.

As the house reveals its secrets, Edwina is forced to confront her family's past, and a devastating betrayal that changed everything. But Edwina doesn't know the whole story. And to discover the truth, she will have to face the one person she vowed never to see again.


Praise for Jenny Eclair:

'Wonderfully written, insightful and riveting' Daily Mail

'Compelling, compassionate and keenly observed' Independent

'Edwina's story is both heart-rending and compelling' Clare Mackintosh

'I loved it SO MUCH' Marian Keyes

'Witty, moving, dark and absorbing' Jo Brand

'An elegant, gripping and mesmeric read' Helen Lederer

'An absolute page-turner of a story' Judy Finnigan

Ratings and reviews

I think, for once, not reading the blurb before beginning to read went against me. Edwina is an artist, now getting on in years. Although her very large home is full of memories, she now lives in only a small portion of it and the time has come to sell up and live somewhere much more manageable. As she shows the (very young) estate agent around the property, visiting rooms she hasn’t been in for quite some time, her mind is flooded with memories of times gone by when it was a family home. Having buried two husbands and raised two children and a stepson, there is plenty to remember, but perhaps there are some things she wasn’t privvy to? When I began reading, I immediately took to Edwina; she may be old with a frail body but her mind is as sharp as ever and the author paints a clear picture of her life and her home. However, once we left the Edwina chapters I sort of wondered where it was going. I’m not sure it was really made clear that there was a family split and, at times, I had to make myself keep going. As with any good novel, there are likeable characters and those you’re not so keen on – and, for me, Barbara was clearly in the second category. By the end of the novel, it all became clear but I did struggle with most of it. I had no quibble with the quality of the writing, but I would have liked the story to have been a bit sharper. Perhaps, in the future, I will try another of Jenny Eclair’s novels but, for me, this one gains 3.5*.

First book I have read of Jenny's really enjoyed it couldn't put it down, so it won't be the last.

Beautifully written, causing one to cry both with laughter and with sadness.

About the author

Stand-up comedian Jenny Eclair was the first woman to win the Perrier Award - the UK's top comedy award - in 1995. Since then, Jenny has taken multiple shows on tour around the country, most recently Sixty! (FFS) which was extended twice due to its popularity. Jenny is well known for her starring role on BBC1's Grumpy Old Women which ran for three series and was then adapted into four live shows touring across the UK and Australia, all of which Jenny co-wrote and starred in. Continuing her partnership with Judith Holder, producer of Grumpy Old Women, Jenny co-hosts the podcast Older and Wider the podcast for people who don't know what a podcast is, a weekly ramble about life, with additional swearing. She is also the writer of the much-loved BBC Radio Four Little Lifetimes monologues which ran for seven series. Jenny was a contestant on series 15 of Taskmaster (Channel 4) and currently hosts the spin off podcast Taskmaster: The People's Podcast. Eclair is also a critically acclaimed author with seven novels, a collection of short stories and a number of non-fiction books under her belt. Jenny's TV appearances include Grumpy Old Women S1-3, Richard Osman's House of Games, Celebrity MasterChef, The Great Pottery Throw Down Festive Celebrity Special, Drawers Off (presenter), The Apprentice: You're Fired!, Room 101, Celebrity Bridge of Lies (BBC), Taskmaster S15 (Channel 4), Loose Women, Pointless Celebrities, The Chase: Celebrity Special (ITV), Alan Davies As Yet Untitled, QI (UKTV). Reality TV appearances include Splash and I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here (ITV) in 2010, in which Jenny came third.