Very deep and well woven characters launch you into this thrilling tale of Bird. The scene is set with the story of her childhood her family including her father's decline but establishing who Bird is and how she got were she is today. The story opens with Bird in a Birmingham office and swiftly goes off at a hundred miles an hour as her life descends into chaos as she takes off. The hints are from the past and it is chasing her, in danger of catching her. A slow paced intricately woven thriller, as the threads fall into place the answers to Heather's questions are deeply exposed. The mystery of her father's life impacts on hers and her daughter's and ultimately culminates in an eye opening conclusion.

I enjoy a book where there is an older female protagonist, especially when she has a job that is out of the norm for the majority of us. This is a slow-building, tense read, moving in unexpected directions, showing us different times of Birds life and family. An intriguing read with twists and turns, clues dropped along the way, my only criticism being that I couldn’t empathise with Bird. However, worth a read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

As good as Apple Tree Yard, it was impossible to put this book down. Great to read about a middle aged female protagonist who has flaws. Definitely to be recommended.

I went into this expecting more of a fast paced thriller however instead this is more of a tense, suspenseful slow burn. Without any spoilers I loved that this has a strong FMC who we learn about slowly throughout the book. I like that it doesn’t give much away and we get to guess and figure out the secrets along with the story instead of being a cliche and knowing from the beginning everything that will happen. If you like tense slow past thriller I recommend this.

I have really enjoyed Louise Doughty ever since Apple Tree Yard so was really looking forward to this one.

When you read the synopsis for this book, there may be a chance you are signing up for something that you might not be. Our protagonist, Bird, walks out in the middle of a meeting and goes on the run. The synopsis talks of 'multiple identities' and people being 'on her trail' and whether she will be 'hunted down'. All sounds very thrilling and exciting? Well, yea and no.

This isn't a typical thriller, it's not a rollercoaster ride Jason Bourne-style of a woman being chased all over the country. The story, for me, was actually quite slow but in a good way. It's a character driven story as we are walked through Bird's backstory and why she came to walk out her meeting.

I don't want to give too much more away but I wouldn't go into this expecting a typical thriller, however I would encourage everyone to read it. Bird is a character who will stay with me for a long time.

Thanks to Netgalley and Faber and Faber for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I finished A Bird in Winter within a week and am still thinking about it - about Heather, our protagonist, and all the twists and turns, and reveals in the story. It's not a thriller in the traditional sense of the genre but is a real page-turner and pacy - I really enjoyed it.

I don't want to say too much about the plot as part of the excitement of the book is not knowing what's coming next. I can say that, particularly in the first third, it's very gripping.

Heather's life story is told in flashback. We know that her dad was a spy and that she never married or had children. She seems to have given herself to her work instead. She did have a platonic friendship with a female friend and helped her with her young daughter, Adeline. As well as learning about Heather's life, there's also great use of foreshadowing with little crumbs dropped along the way that worked to keep me reading. These crumbs tease out exactly why Heather is on the run with an interesting twist on who exactly caused her to have to flee.

If you're a fan of thrillers or a detailed character study, you'll love this book but, really, anyone who enjoys a well plotted, brilliantly written story should read it too.

I am a big fan of this author - particularly the fact that every novel of hers I have read is so different - really pushes herself to do something different. A Bird in Winter is the story of a 50 year old woman who works for the Secret Service - and very suddenly has to go on the run. We don't know why to begin with - but as she flees and lives wild as she continually avoids capture - her story unfolds. A really good mix of a spy thriller, and also of a woman in early 50s learning to live with the reasons behind the life she has led behind. Really rare to get a good kick-ass type heroine that isn't in their 20s / 30s - and Heather is a brilliant character. Really tense at times and I struggled to put it down. Really recommend.

The blurb doesn't tell you much, no spoilers...

'Bird' is on the run, walking out on job, her home, her life. She's prepared, being found could cost Bird her freedom, and possibly her life.

It's told with a lot of backstory and history, more backstory than present day for a good chunk of the book. I don't mind this at all, Michael Robotham's Cyrus Haven series has got me used to it. It's reflective and rambling and builds a great sense of character.

I find it a relaxing and engaging style to read, even though it's definitely not a thrill a minute.

The threat and tension builds, and it definitely kept me reading.

Don't expect a typical thriller, more a high risk journey into the unknown with a very involvingly written main character. I've got a feeling not everyone will 'get it' but I certainly did.

Thanks to Netgalley and Faber and Faber Ltd