Oh, how I miss Penny Vincenzi.  Ms. Vincenzi was the first author I had the pleasure of meeting as a book seller.  She was so sweet and kind.  I fell in love with her books.  These are true sagas with great characters and intertwining stories.  

I adored A Question of Trust...

rip ms vincenzi

Loved this book.  It was a bittersweet read, since Penny Vincenzi passed away recently.  Loved the way all of her characters stories interconnected.  I would have liked one character to get his just desserts since he was horrible.

For me this book started slow but I kept reading and I enjoyed it.  The novel follows a groups of friends as they navigate World War II and the decade that follows.  There are a lot characters and they can be hard to keep track of.  Tom is a rising star in the Labor Party with a wife and three children.  His cause is National Health, his wife is a nurse and many of the other supporting characters are doctors so there is a lot of medical background.  Diana becomes a top fashion model. I really liked her character.  I also enjoyed many of the other supporting characters.  Enjoy this sprawling novel

I loved every moment of this book, made more poignant by the death of its’ author, Penny Vincenzi.  This is such an incredible glimpse of post-war Britain, with the various strands woven together by a brilliant author. The politics and social change are embodied in the lives of the main characters.  

Although, the story is told through the lives, often interconnected, of several characters, none are without multiple dimensions. I found myself totally involved in their lives and understanding each perspective.   I generally don’t like novels with this many characters, but Vincenzi managed to give each depth and believability. 

Each character is so strongly drawn that it would be difficult to limit the discussion to any single person. I must say the journey of Tom, both personal and professional, best embodies the era, both socially and politically.  The changing attitudes towards sexual relationships, marriage and adultery are all explored. 

Her dealing with the politics of the era and the path followed by Tom, makes this a valuable read for anyone interested in political change. The British struggle with National Health Care, which predates ours by a half century make a fascinating backdrop and a great jumping off point for discussion.  In addition, attitudes towards both homosexuality and care of children will give reading groups hours of discussion. 

This is a totally satisfying read, which I loved. I will miss Penny Vincenzi’s books, but this is certainly a fine coda to her years of writing brilliance.