May 22, 2023
In the arresting latest from Baker (Longbourn), a young typist in WWII-era London deals with overwhelming grief. Charlotte Richmond tries forge a new life apart from her dominating MP father, Sir Charles Richmond; her stepmother, Marion; and their lavish estate. Her older brother, Eddie, dies early in the war, and she sinks deeper into despair when her best friend El is killed in a German bombing raid. Charlotte, who believes she’s being followed by someone she calls “the shadow man,” suspects El was targeted in the raid, though no one else believes her and she begins questioning her sanity. Her family, long fed up after she refused to be in a debutante ball, has Charlotte committed to an asylum, where she’s subjected to insulin shock therapy and overwhelming doses of drugs. Though the plot is never fully resolved, the shadow man makes a consequential appearance at the asylum. Baker vividly portrays the surreal sight of London ravaged by the Blitz and adds psychological depth to Charlotte’s internal monologues (addressing El’s voice, whom she repeatedly hears after El’s death, she thinks, “You’re shock. You’re grief. You’re not El.... If I ignore you, you will go away”). This stands above run-of-the-mill WWII fare. Agents: Anna Stein and Clare Alexander, Aitken Alexander Assoc.
June 10, 2024
Set against the backdrop of World War II in London, Baker's (Longbourn) latest, narrated by Katherine Manners, does not focus directly on the war but instead highlights 1940s societal issues, including birth control, queer relationships, and standards in psychiatric care. Charlotte Richmond, a typist at the Ministry of Information, is trying to get her life on track but is deeply shaken when her friends begin dying around her. Troubled by their voices, which haunt her thoughts, she becomes unmoored and begins to think that she is being followed. Charlotte is determined to find out what happened to her late best friend, El, and enlists the help of a young man who feeds the birds. But, fed up with Charlotte's behavior, her family commits her to an asylum, where she is subjected to disturbing medical care. Though the novel is slow to start, listeners will soon be drawn into the storyline and appreciate the intricacies of the world Baker describes. Manners's empathetic yet lively narration captures the nuances of Charlotte's struggles and paints a vibrant portrait of her and her friends and family. VERDICT Baker's atmospheric tale of friendship, love, and self-discovery should appeal to readers of character-driven, suspenseful historical fiction.--Amber Wessies
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