The Abandoned

When I picked this books I was unsure weather it would keep me gripped as this isn't what I normally read but wow I've read this in about two days and couldn't believe how much I just wanted to keep reading, the character are well thought out, the plot which I thought was going one way but turned another way

Read my 5-star review of The Abandoned: a gripping crime thriller by Sharon Thompson

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2261716336

This book follows the ups and downs in the life of Peggy Bowden, and it’s quite a rollercoaster ride! From orphan to a woman of means, battered wife to wealthy criminal, prison to brothel madam, criminal gang leader to political activist, you never know what’s coming next for Peggy. Although she’s a pretty despicable character in many ways, you can’t help but admire her strength in adversity.
It’s a gritty book that’s hard to read in places but I couldn’t put it down.

Peggy not had a loving and careful life due to her mother that has to go in the asylum.
Peggy was married to a priest but not for long as he had an accident .
So in 1950 Dublin Peggy soon rises to a business for a maternity house.But realize she is not taking it right so she hopes to correct it .

Wow. What a read. I started this last night and as soon as I got kids to school this morning I was back in bed reading the rest of this story. This is a debut novel and it is written brilliantly.

This book is set in the 1950s. I haven’t read books from decades ago in so long, probably my teenage years when I inhaled Catherine Cookson. This book brought me back to those years with a smile on my face. The book is set in Ireland so my smile was even bigger. Familiar names had me in a happy bubble.

The Abandoned is Peggy’s story. She’s had a real tough start to life. She’s a tough cookie and knows how to fight for survival. Any opportunity she sees she grasps with everything she has and tries her best.

While Peggy fights her conscience she finds herself in the middle of the criminal world. Is she strong enough to hold her own??

Cannot praise this author highly enough. I will be recommending this to anyone who listens. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

Brilliant! This book was fantastically written, I loved the character Peggy, and the story drew me in immediately, I found myself reading at any given opportunity. This is the first book I have read by this author, having heard many good recommendations, I will certainly be reading more of this author's work.

I really wanted to be on Peggy's side but I found her a bit erratic and I didn't particularily like some of the things she did. Peggy runs a brothel and she has had a hard life, Molly met Peggy in jail and she helped Molly set up the business. She feels hard done by as she plods through her life but that is due to come crashing down on her when one of the punters upsets Molly.
The other girls have scattered but Peggy decides she must continue on but nothing ever goes to plan for Peggy and she finds herself deep in the criminal underground when her interest is piqued by a letter from a solicitor.
I loved the book on a whole and it was definately a page turner so I suggest you try it for yourself, 'I am sure you will not be disappointed Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound for the kindle copy of the book.

This book was really good it had me gripped from the start and did not let me down.

Peggy was married and after her husband dies in a accident, she decides that she wants to help people, so she trains to become a midwife.

This book was set in the 1950s Ireland, when things were a lot different for women during those years.

Peggy opens a maternity home which is a huge success. There is lack of birth control for a lot of women and she decides to do something about it.

While on this campaign, Peggy sees it as a way to make more money, but soon ends up with her being involved in the underworld.

And before long Peggy is caught up in a world where she doesn't want to be. Can she get out and turn her life back around or has she bitten off more than she can handle?

This book transports you back to the 1950s and you get an insight to how different a woman's right to birth control and how different life was then.

This book is a really nice read that will keep you gripped.

Have to admit at first I was not sure about this book but it just gets better and better a brilliant book.

If you love a good crime and thriller book ; this book is for you .; the characters are very strong willed ; when life has dealt them a bad card ; they still stay strong ; great fast paced book not to be missed ; I was hooked from the first chapter

From page one I was lured into the dark world of Peggy Bowden. The book is not even close to what I have expected it to be.

The year is 1950 and we are in Dublin at the doorstep of a house number thirty-four. We are being greeted by Peggy Bowden. Peggy is not your ordinary girl next door, she is more of the opposite. Peggy's life was never easy. Becoming a mistress of a whorehouse and an abortionist was not her first choice, but that was all she could do to survive. Peggy's character is straightforward, she is not afraid to stand up for herself or to tell the truth. Her world came crashing when her father didnt return home from the war and her mother went mad shortly after and was taken to a mental asylum. She was married off to an abusive farmer, until an unfortunate accident when he broke his neck. After that accident, Peggy moved to Dublin, became a midwife and started to run an illegal baby-selling business. After a while, she was turned into to law enforcement hands and ended up in the prison for five years. Life after prison was even worse, and running a whorehouse and illegal abortion business on the side was all she could do at the time.

A letter in the mailbox informs Peggy of a living (wealthy) family member that would like to reconnect with her. Can this be Peggy's happy ending? Can she reunite with a long lost relative, gain a family and live happily ever after? Even if a family member turns out to be a good old Irish mobster?

The rollercoaster of events in this book keeps the reader on their toes.

Sharon Thompson has a natural ability to captivate her audience with her writing.
Peggy Bowden is an amazingly strong woman who despite whatever difficulties life throws at her she pulls herself up and carries on. Set in the 1950s when Dublin had its own troubles Peggy a trained midwife has to try and make a life for herself after losing her mother to an asylum, surviving an abusive marriage and even a time in prison.
Loved this debut and looking forward to reading more by this exciting new author.

What a great debut! Ms Thompson creates a wonderful world full of intrigue with a protagonist that is both troubling and relatable - even as you question her deeds, you find yourself understanding her reasons and admiring her ability to put herself at risk to do what needs to be done. Add to that the extremely vivid descriptions of 1950's Dublin, and this book is one that is difficult to put down!

This is not my usual type of book but I'm so glad I read it. Although dark and gritty, I found It hard to put down.
Peggy is a fantastic and complex character. I loved this debut and looking forward to reading more by Sharon Thompson. Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.

the abandoned by Sharon Thompson.
in 1950 Dublin it's not easy for Peggy bourden to make a living. what makes a woman decide to walk down a dark path?
Will she pay for her crimes?
a fantastic read. I wasn't sure if I liked Peggy or not. loved the story though. 5*.