I picked this book up with huge intrigue knowing that Louise Doughty was the acclaimed author of Apple Tree Yard.

In this book, we meet Bird who initially is going about life as normal and then suddenly is on the run and it becomes clear this is no ordinary woman!

This book has a strong espionage thriller vibe and I found it deeply engrossing as it follows Bird on her quest to escape her current life undetected. Not knowing why she was running, or who from/to added an extra frisson of excitement into this already edgy tale.

As you would expect from the author of Apple Tree Yard, A Bird in Winter is beautifully written, with richly described scenes and settings and clearly defined characters. I appreciated the gentle unfolding of the story as much as the pacier, racier bits and overall found it to be engrossing read and I hope it too will appear on our TV screens.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley and Faber and Faber for an ARC in return for an honest review.

In A Bird in Winter, Louise Doughty presents an introspective exploration of identity and escape through the eyes of Heather (Bird), a woman entrenched in the world of secret intelligence following her abrupt departure from the army.

With a family legacy of espionage—her father was a spy—Bird's life is steeped in complexity.

The opening lines set the stage for her internal struggle: “Do these jobs warp your personality so you can perform them well, or did you choose them because they suited you in the first place?”

Bird’s story takes a drastic turn when a single misstep compromises her reputation, leading her into a life on the run.

The narrative poses profound questions about the nature of flight and concealment: “Why do we run? Is it because we want to be far away, to be hidden, or is it because of the most profound of all human desires to be found?”

This duality drives the heart of the novel, as Bird grapples with the consequences of her choices and the depths of her psyche.

The structure of the book, divided into three parts—present, past, and present—initially immerses readers in Bird's frantic escape before transitioning into reflective moments that delve deeper into her motivations and fears.

Doughty’s writing is particularly evocative, skillfully portraying the starkness of winter as a metaphor for Bird’s bleak outlook on life.

While the narrative unfolds at a slower pace in the latter sections, I found value in the introspection and character study.

Doughty’s ability to weave edgy elements into the fabric of Bird’s story creates a unique reading experience, even if it doesn’t deliver the relentless tension of a traditional thriller.

Although I wouldn't classify A Bird in Winter as a nail-biting thriller, it offers a rich, literary exploration of personal turmoil and the complexities of self-discovery.

For those who appreciate a reflective narrative with emotional depth and a touch of suspense, this book is certainly worth considering.

Overall, it's an engaging read that left me with much to ponder, making me curious to explore more of Doughty's work in the future.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Gritty, compelling and a fantastic tale. You won’t be able to work out where the story is going meaning you can’t stop reading! Love the main character. Very real and a very interesting topic.

A great slow burner of a book...it has you intrigued from the beginning as it slowly builds up the background and the characters. Some tense moments as Bird flees her hunters whilst also trying to work out who exactly is after her and why but it is definitely more of a slow paced tale than a thriller. It's still very cleverly written and I would read more by this author

I just love Louise Doughty and this book while it does take a little time to get into a the beginning is well worth the investment. I was so invested in storyline and in the main character Bird who is working for the secret service and on the run from someone or something. An intriguing read that is very hard to put down. A story told from Bird’s POV that details her life over the years working for the organisation, all she sacrificed and what she is now going through today. A must read. This author never fails to deliver.

I enjoyed this ArC from Netalley. Heather in the narrative is a British member of the secret service - whethter this is MI5 or GCHQ or simply spying is not certain. The book is about escape - about extending life through ingenuity and intrigue. A great read

It reads a little like a modern day 39 steps

My thanks to Faber and Faber and NetGalley for a copy of “ A Bird In Winter” for an honest review.

I’ve not read anything by Louise Doughty before, jt I’ve seen Tv adaptations of her novels and enjoyed them.
Unfortunately , even though I can imagine this also being made into a Tv drama, this book just isn’t for me.
I found the book too slow and I quickly lost interest.so I can only give it an average mark

This book was a bit of a slow burn, but so very worth it. I loved the characters, I felt they had great depth and were very likeable. The descriptions throughout the book were great, I felt fully immersed in the setting. It was hard to put this book down, I just wanted to know what was going to happen next.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this psychological not-so-thrilling thriller, in spite of its faults, which soon become apparent. It’s one of those books that if you sink into it and read uncritically it passes a few pleasant hours and overall is great fun. Whilst I was reading I let myself be carried along with the narrative and tried to stop myself picking up on the plot inconsistencies and the many unanswered questions. It tells of Bird, or Heather, a woman who was once in the WRAC and then joined the British Secret Service, where she had a successful career. Now it’s all turned sour and “they” are out to get her. (I was never quite sure who “they” were, but perhaps that’s my inattentive reading.) She has to go on the run and try to outpace her pursuers. I found some of it completely implausible, but the writing is reasonably skilful and I definitely wanted to stay with it and see how it all panned out – but had to take my literary critic hat off, and keep it off. If you can do that, then this is a very readable and enjoyable novel.

A brilliant read. Very mush a slow burn, full of tension, suspense and plenty of twists. This is a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and you will stay up long into the night just to finish it.

Wow ! What a fantastic read! I’m still reeling from it and reluctant to pick up a new book as it’s still with me.
I have loved all of Louise Doughty’s books but the reviews on this new book were more variable and I wasn’t sure but decided to give it a go. I loved it ! In fact I tried to read it more slowly towards the end as I didn’t want it to finish but I did want to know what happened! It’s a story about a woman on the run and why and what will / could happen next. It was addictive, compelling, tense , gripping and so hard to put down. I loved the author’s way of telling the story , the descriptions and narrative and it will stay with me a long time. Can fully recommend!

Synopsis
Bird is a woman on the run. One minute, she’s in a meeting in her office in Birmingham - the next, she’s walking out on her job, her home, her life. It’s a day she thought might come, one she’s prepared for. But nothing could prepare her for what will happen next. 

As Bird tries to work out who exactly is on her trail, she must also decide who - if anyone - she can trust. Is her greatest fear that she will be hunted down, or that she will never be found?

My thoughts ….
Bird (Heather ) narrates her life past, present and future from the army to working in ‘Alaska ‘a building in Birmingham as a spy like her father .
Kieran Blythe calls a meeting and suddenly Heather goes on the run .
You don’t know why and the less you know gives a mystery which is addictive and gripping.
And what a journey full of burner phones , fear , clever movements and fabulous descriptions of the travel . This was a slow burner in a good way and the landscapes described was so descriptive you were there in the cold bleak days of Scandinavian countries. Heathers fear , her flight for her life is so visual you are running with her!

I really sank into A Bird in Winter and was engrossed in it for days. The story is excellent, as we follow Heather (or Bird) on her escape journey across the UK and into Norway and Iceland, using multiple identities and disguises to cover her tracks. Exactly why she is running or who is pursuing her is revealed very gradually.

A Bird in Winter is beautifully written, well paced, has wonderful settings vibrantly described, and the characters are interesting and well-defined. I finished it a couple of months ago and – the true sign of a good novel – have continued to reflect on it since I finished it. I loved reading about an intelligent, independent middle-aged woman and her working life. There are not enough novels targetting older career women.

A Bird in Winter is part thriller and part reflective psychological novel; I enjoyed both the exciting on-the-run scenes and the quieter intervals in the cold northern landscapes where she settles in and tries to blend into the snowy background in an isolated village. The scene where she flees her pursuer in Iceland is particularly gripping.

I think I enjoyed this even more than Apple Tree Yard. It's a more mature book and more unusual. I will definitely be looking out for this author's work.

My thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for giving me an ARC. My reviews are always 100% unbiased and honest regardless of how I acquire the book.

A Bird in Winter was a bit different from what I was expecting - it’s a thriller but less glamorous and twisty than some of Doughty’s other novels such as Apple Tree Yard. Heather is in her 50s and works in British intelligence. She suddenly has to go on the run in the middle of a meeting in Birmingham and heads towards Scotland. It’s very gripping, particularly Heather’s initial dash to board a train undetected, and the story gradually unravels her past. It seems like a fairly realistic perspective of how intelligence actually works but might be a bit too much of a slow-burn for some readers. Many thanks for the review copy, and sorry the review is so late!

A slow-burn mystery thriller. Intelligence officer Heather aka Bird goes on the run when she is implicated in internal wrongdoings. On her journey she reflects on past mistakes. A terrific read.

This is a great book that kept me guessing. It follows Heather, a brilliantly written character, who is in the secret service and has had to suddenly go on the run. The location descriptions are detailed and really bring the novel to life. I highly recommend this book.

A slow, tantalising read told from the perspective of Heather or Bird. The story is split into three parts and details Heather's escape up through Scotland and into Europe, as she finds herself entangled in a government setup. She followed her father into secretive work after a stint in the army. We follow her escape with the most best and harsh cold landscapes, then we are introduced to her beloved friend Flavia. Meanwhile, the story is slowly revealed. Part 3 sees her detangle herself and reflect from a position of exile and confronting those who crossed her. #abirdinwinter #louisedoughty #netgalley

Thank you Faber & Faber and Netgalley and sorry I did read this sooner.
I have read all of Louise's books and this certainly didn't disappoint.
This was a really excellent thriller with basis of one persons attempt to stay one step ahead of pursuers and the reasoning why.
I really enjoyed this book and at times had trouble putting it down.
Highly recommend and please can I have Louise's next book?

Really enjoyed A Bird in Winter by Louise Doughty. The novel begins in an office in Birmingham where an announcement is made to the staff. Heather knows that she must immediately leave the office and go on the run. Heather works in British Intelligence and heads to Scotland. The tension is carefully paced as we learn more about Heather, about her past, as she tries to evade those sent to hunt her down. A great read.

I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.