☮Karen's Reviews > Belgravia

In person book club read #11 (Dec 2017) because we're all Downton Abbey fans.

Oh, how I miss Downton Abbey. The reruns just don't cut it for me; I want to be given some new episodes to watch. However, this book, by the same author, surpassed filling many of my Downton cravings. Not as fully developed in the 400+ pages offered, but I still loved it -- sort of like settling for a chocolate ice cream sundae when you really wanted hot fudge.

There are similarities to Downton found here, but missing, among other things, are the good people of the downstairs staff. Instead, the staff are rather despicable personalities. They play a smaller role here, but pivotal to the plot nonetheless. What I truly enjoyed were the dynamics between a nouveau riche couple and a proper aristocratic matriarch as they must interact, at first unwillingly, to do what's right for their families when someone from the past appears practically out of nowhere. Secrets and hard feelings branch out even to the extended families; and the many plot twists are both expected and surprising.

The audiobook, read by Juliet Stevenson, was riveting. Her skill with voices and accents made the listening experience all the more enjoyable to me. 4.5 stars.