Book Description:
‘My story starts and ends at railway stations, though of course I can’t know this yet as I clamber off the boat-train at Victoria that warm May afternoon…‘
Growing up in a strict religious family in the 1920s, Annie Lang is witness to disturbing events that no one will explain. Only the family dog may know the answers.
Six years on, student Annie returns from France to find her beloved brother in a mental hospital and her ally, the Sunday school teacher, vanished without trace. With the help of her childhood diary, and sister Beatrice, Annie turns detective to unearth the truth.
Her journey leads to a discovery so disturbing that she believes it will ruin all their lives, unless they can atone for the past.
Ros Franey beautifully captures that point when a child can sense, and indeed dissent against, secrets that adults think they are too young to grasp. Impulsive, brave and lovable, Annie Lang is formidable when she takes matters into her own hands.
My Review:
The Dissent of Annie Lang is a book I’d probably not have heard about if it hadn’t been for this blog tour which would have been a huge shame as it’s a fantastic book that should be on everyone’s radar.
Annie is such a fantastic main character. I absolutely fell in love with her and loved reading about her life throughout this book. Her way of thinking and expressing herself was very entertaining at times especially when it came to her opinions on the mission and religion which were very funny. Her bravery when trying to find out what was happening or when she stood up to ‘mother’ was very admirable but also heartbreaking at times as you realise how young she is and what she’s up against. Some of the more shocking parts of the book are even more shocking and poignant when viewed through her eyes. I really felt her fear and confusion at times and wished I could give her a huge hug.
The author has clearly done her research and perfectly describes life in the 1920’s. It’s quite shocking to realise how children and the mentally ill were treated in those days. The style of writing and the fantastic characters makes the book a very gripping read. I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens and to check that Annie was ok.
This is the author’s second book but the first one by her that I’ve read but I’ll definitely be reading more from her in the future.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater and Muswell Press for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
About The Author:
Ros Franey grew up in Nottingham where this book is set. She is a maker of award-winning documentaries. Two films about the Guildford 4 and the book she co-authored, Timebomb, contributed to the quashing of their case. This is her second novel; her first, Cry Baby, received excellent reviews. She lives in North London.
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Over The Rainbow Blog 
Thanks so much for supporting the Blog Tour Jo x
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My pleasure xx
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