Going Gently - David Nobbs

Kate Thomas is in hospital. She is 99 years old and has the biggest mystery of her life to solve before she can even think of dying. Which of her three sons murdered her fifth husband? The story takes the reader through Kate’s amazing life. She was born of Welsh God-fearing parents who did not show emotion – so Kate decided early in her life that she did not believe in God and threw her parents rule-book to one side and lived life to the full. This feisty character married six times (to five different men) and is not shy when it comes to sex. One of her husbands committed suicide, one was taken as a prisoner of war – and Kate found someone else ...  Read the complete review

This really is one of the best books I have read for ages. I must admit that from the blurb on the cover I didn't expect it to be quite so good, but from the first page it is absolutely gripping. Kate is just approacing her 100th birthday, and is lying in a hospital bed with nothing to do but listen to, and often try to ignore, what's going on around her, and rewind in her mind through her life. There's a puzzle to solve - which one of her children killed her husband. Don't panic, that's all you are getting of the plot from me, and that's probably a bit less than you can get from the back cover. The murder puzzle is ...  Read the complete review

I have just completed one of the best novels I have read this year,and when I saw it's author listed in the category without mention of the book I just had to share my opinion with you! 'Going Gently'written by David Nobbs,and priced here in the UK on paperback at £6.99 is an un-puttadownable story of a woman approaching her 100th birthday in hospital following a stroke. Rather obviously much of the book is spent with the heroine Kate Thomas looking back on her many years experiences of life,love, opportunities,lovers and regrets. Unexpectedly there is a reason for the extremly well written reminiscing,although to reveal this ...  Read the complete review