The Densham Do

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I was a bit dubious about reading this book before starting, based on the Goodreads reviews.

So, yes the book does jump from different perspectives of the different characters, however this is written in such a way that you know which of the character's perspective you are reading. Although saying that sometimes I did lose track of what role they played in the "The Densham Do family wedding".

Lawyers Kate and Robert are getting married and both are from well to do families and they are doing their wedding THEIR way, however there is a twist They want to bring down a corrupt Councillor at their own wedding. Although the Councillor has other ideas and wants to be the first to do the speech at the wedding - Kate, Robert and their wedding party play the Councillor at his own game.

As well as the twists, big events like weddings allow you to reflect and this is no different. Attending the wedding changed the majority of the guests lives / outlook for the better.

A great enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it.

Agree with the other reviewers on Netgalley - there are too many voices here, they are quite similar and I can only imagine they will get confusing. Could have done with both a more stringent copy- and structural edit.

Interesting premise, characters and setting. All in all an entertaining story. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting read for me. First let me start by saying that it was an enjoyable read, I read it quickly and it did engage me, but there wasnt any twists that let me wanting more or a level of unpredictability that made me breathless. I did enjoy it but it also left me wanting more. I will still check out more by the author.

Devon-born London lawyer Kate Densham is to marry her colleague, Robert Harrington. Her father, a senior university professor, is involved in a substantial land deal in which the university is seeking to sell a large chunk of the land it owns to a developer. Kate and her fiancé are acting for the possible buyers of the land. They know that the organisation is involved in criminal activity and has strong ties to the chairman of the local planning committee, and believe they can take effective action against them 'from the inside’...

But don’t forget – as all of this is happening, there’s still the wedding to attend.

From Matthew Densham, the uncle of the bride, to Celia Harrington, the grandmother of the groom; Phyllis Drayton, friend of the bride’s parents, to Simon Roche, an ex-university friend of the groom; this is a wedding that will impact the lives of all that are involved.

The author’s writing style lends itself perfectly to the genre. He knows exactly when to end a scene and mount suspense. The characters are well-drawn and believable. The plot is perfectly paced, holds your interest, and keeps you guessing.

Much Ado…
Much ado in The Densham Do as a big family event, a wedding, is set to take place. With a host of characters to contend with and an entertaining storyline this is a quick, fun read. Not, perhaps, the solid mystery that was presented with the hook but nevertheless an enjoyable, nicely written read.

Some interesting characters and an unusual wedding, that’s for sure! The book is quite short considering how many perspectives the author seeks to include. While I liked the different perspectives, I did sometimes find myself losing track of who everyone was.

The setting is a country house hotel in Devon. The cast is mainly made up of the guests at a middle class wedding with a dodgy local planning officer thrown in the mix.
The author writes from the POV of several of the characters creating high drama and wit. The shifting sands of family relationships, the secrets revealed, and the awakening of loves old and new, all combine to form an engaging narrative.
This is a story which would work well on stage - perhaps in one of the great theatres on St Martin's Lane where Alan Ayckbourn and Noel Coward plays in a similar vein enjoyed long runs.