Welcome to KIWIreviews - product reviews
•  click here to return to the homepage  •
Welcome visitor.Join us or log in

Product reviews on kiwireviews.nz : Wednesday 11th December 2024 - 04:45:40

QuickSearch for:    What is QuickSearch?
QuickJump to:    What is QuickJump?
logon name: p/w:  

I want to:

You Are Here...

Home > Categories > Books > Fiction > Red Joan review

« Veronica Mars (the movie) reviewVeronica Mars (the movie) By Its cover reviewBy Its cover »

Score: 10.0/10  [1 review]
5 out of 5
ProdID: 5310 - Red Joan
Written by Jennie Rooney

Red Joan
Price:
$26.99
Sample/s Supplied by:
Click to search for all products supplied by Penguin Random House

Disclosure StatementFULL DISCLOSURE: A number of units of this product have, at some time, been provided to KIWIreviews by Penguin Random House or their agents for the sole purposes of unbiased, independent reviews. No fee was requested, offered nor accepted by KIWIreviews or the reviewers themselves - these are genuine, unpaid consumer reviews.
Available:
4th April 2014

Red Joan product reviews

Joan Stanley has a secret.

She is a loving mother, a doting grandmother, and leads a quiet, unremarkable life in the suburbs. Then one morning there is a knock on the door, and suddenly the past she has been so keen to hide for the last fifty years threatens to overturn her comfortable world.

Cambridge University in 1937 is awash with ideas and idealists, yet unworldly Joan feels better suited to a science lecture and a cup of cocoa. But a chance meeting with the glamorous Russian-born Sonya and her charismatic cousin Leo blurs the edges of the things Joan thought she knew about the world, and about herself.

In the post-War world of smoke and mirrors, allegiance is a slippery thing. Working in a government ministry with access to top-secret information, Joan is suddenly faced with the most difficult question of all: what price would you pay to remain true to what you believe? Would you betray your country, your family, even the man you love?

Paper Back

Check out Penguin Random House onlineClick here to see all the listings for Penguin Random House Visit their website They do not have a Twitter account Check them out on Facebook They do not have a YouTube Channel They do not have a Pinterest board They do not have an Instagram channel They do not have a TikTok channel



Tags:
cold war   communism   contempoary fiction   historical   random house   spy   vintage books
Other listings you may be interested in:
StolenStolen
Rating: 8.8
Duck's StuckDuck's Stuck
Rating: 9.8
The JungleThe Jungle
Rating: 9.5
At the BeachAt the Beach
Rating: 9.5
Bad Dog FlashBad Dog Flash
Rating: 9.0
The Very Brave BearThe Very Brave Bear
Rating: 10.0
Spirit Animals #4: Fire and IceSpirit Animals #4: Fire and Ice
Rating: 9.4
Heartside Bay #12 - Winter WonderlandHeartside Bay #12 - Winter Wonderland
Rating: 9.8
Some MumsSome Mums
Rating: 10.0
Wheelnuts! #4: Deep Sea DashWheelnuts! #4: Deep Sea Dash
Rating: 9.4
Maui and the Goddess of FireMaui and the Goddess of Fire
Rating: 8.0
DC Comics - Secret Hero Society: Study Hall of JusticeDC Comics - Secret Hero Society: Study Hall of Justice
Rating: 9.1
Colouring CreationsColouring Creations
Rating: 9.8

Product reviews...

Everyone is welcome to post a review. You will need to Join up or log in to post yours.

Click here to read the profile of sweetpea

Review by: sweetpea (Sarah)
Dated: 24th of March, 2014

Link to this review Report this review

 

This Review: 10/10
Value for Money:
Score 10 out of 10
Level of Realism:
Score 10 out of 10
Rereadability:
Score 10 out of 10
Lose Track of Time:
Score 10 out of 10

The blurb on the front cover of Red Joan says "A gripping, emotional and expertly plotted spy novel of the Cold War". It is indeed that and so much more. Before I get into my review I will break the suspense and say that this was quite simply a superb book and I loved it!

Generally spy novels - well I am pretty sure all the spy novels I have read previously actually - are written by men and are about men and as such take a masculine angle that often is, even if well written, still just a bit of a mans book. This book is just a breath of fresh air in comparison. Written by a women and about a women it automatically is going to appeal to both the male and female reader alike but what takes this book to great heights on my list of best books to read is that is so incredibly well written and the plot is just gripping.

This story is based on real events which in itself makes it a fascinating read as you know that this isn't just a 'what if' story but is based on events that actually occurred with real people. The author has chosen to write this book from the view of Joan who is the central character. She has interwoven this story from the present when Joan is first being interviewed in her eighties by 'security services' about whether she was a spy in the Cold War. Joan's story unfolds using flashbacks and reminisces of Joan's former life but is done so expertly that right up to the end I was still wondering just how the story would end. Jennie Rooney manages such a gripping story by simple techniques such as Joan's husband only ever being referred to as "he". By not using his name the suspense continues and there are several surprises along the way.

I was absolutely captivated by this book and stayed awake too late on many nights reading "just one more page" as I couldn't close the book.

Even if you have never enjoyed a spy story this book might well be a very pleasant surprise. I was almost disappointed when it ended as I had enjoyed reading it so much. A very well written book with a fantastic plot and a very well executed story.

This is definitely a book I would recommend if you have any interest in history, the war or just a good ole complex love affair. Jennie Rooney thank-you so much for writing this book (and telling a story that really is amazing) and for writing it so well! 10/10.

Random listing from 'Books'...

Score: 9.3
Product reviews for listing 2899: Natural Food Flavors and Colorants -  Written by Mathew Attokaran, PhD

Product image for Natural Food Flavors and ColorantsAlthough many foods are appealing, and even perceived as natural, in spite of containing synthetic additives, consumer increasingly prefer food products which are fully natural. This has driven an increase in the use of, and interest in, food additives derived from biological sources. Of particular interest are natural food flavours and colours, which have started to play a major role in food processing.

This volume presents practical ... more...

Go to the listing

General Disclaimer...

Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Checker - Do not copy content from this page. Creative Commons Licence All trademarks, images and copyrights on this site are owned by their respective companies.
KIWIreviews is an independent entity, part of the Knock Out News Group. This is a free public forum presenting user opinions on selected products, and as such the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of kiwireviews.nz and are protected under New Zealand law by the "Honest Opinion" clause of the Defamation Act of 1992. KIWIreviews accepts no liability for statements made on this site, on the premise that they have been submitted as the true and honest opinions of the individual posters. In most cases, prices and dates stated are approximate and should be considered as only guidelines.

"I'm tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. That's deep enough. What do you want, an adorable pancreas?"
Jean Kerr