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33 Women

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Member Reviews

This was so much more than I expected!

Sisters who lost a sister to murder years before return to the area where she was found to settle their late mother’s affairs. Now, there is another woman who has been murdered near by. Oh, and there’s an all women commune in the area too. It’s got everything you need to get really suspicious of pretty much everyone.

I feel like every time I pick up something where the main character is uncovering things about a loved one’s suspicious death, it always seems to let me down a little. I’m not sure if it’s because these books are difficult to write or if there are really only 2 greater outcomes - it was suspicious or it wasn’t, and the details come later. This book did not though. It has interconnected murders, a commune that people definitely think is a cult, secrets that are actually kept secret until it is appropriate to reveal them & fit with the story rather than a “clever twist”. Full disclosure, I’m sure some people will think that some of the secrets revealed are a little over the top & not very realistic. To that, I say, first, you’re entitled to your opinion, but secondly, the women of the commune had all decided to leave their former lives and selves behind - some adopting new names, so i feel like there’s bound to be some interesting secrets in that group.

I also felt a lot of different emotions while listening to this. I felt such profound sadness that a commune like this needed to exist, a little anger at their strict code of conduct, but also a feeling of gratitude that human resilience and strength can be found in some of the most unlikely places and people.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Isabel Ashdown for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Book review of 33 Women by Isabel Ashdown

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book was such a pleasant surprise. What a thrilling mystery with so many brilliant characters! I did not expect to be pulled in so quickly to this story. The author did such an amazing job with creating the storyline of each character, and the ability to go from past to present throughout the book was flawless. The author kept me guessing right up to the very end! Brilliant writing! I am walking away from this book extremely impressed. Highly recommended read!

Book description:
When sisters Celine and Pip get a call telling them their reclusive mother has died, the women are reunited at her riverside home in Arundel to pick up the pieces. But someone is missing - their middle sister, Vanessa, brutally murdered years ago and the victim of an unsolved case. As the sisters confront ghosts from the past, the discovery of another body in similar circumstances throws new light on Vanessa's death. Could there be more to her case than the police first thought? And what do the mysterious residents of Two Cross Farm, the neighbouring women's commune, have to do with it? What secrets are lurking behind their locked gates? And what is the significance of the number 33?

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33 Women by Isabel Ashdown is a mystery that brings 2 sisters together when their reclusive mother dies. What secrets will they uncover in the all women’s commune?

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I tried and tried to get into this book as I have liked her past books but i just cannot do the cult thing. Gave up after a couple of hours.

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3.5 stars rounded to 4

Ugh, I really wanted to love this one. I enjoyed it, I did, but I didn't love it like I wanted to. This was mostly a pacing issue for me honestly. I started this book, then put it down and read two other books before picking it back up. When I finally did, I felt the same, it dragged for me.

The Story itself was quite well written with dynamic, believable characters and it was very atmouspheric. It switches between the past and the presence as well as two different view points, which at times could be a bit hard to follow. I had to keep going back to re-listen to a few parts to make sure I had all the information and when these things were happening.

The second half of the book did pick up a bit and that's where you get most of the turnout and things start getting twisty and coming to light. I kept going just to see what had really happened.

The Narrators were wonderful, that was the best way I could keep track of who was telling the story at that time.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape media for a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

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(4.5 rounded up!!) This audiobook (& 2 Cross Farms specifically,) had me hooked from the beginning. The idea of the place sounds so safe & serene, but have the women succeeded in their founders vision?

Narrated by Candida Gubbins & Imogen Church (always 1 of my favorites,) they did a great job expressing both the tension & the tenderness this quick moving mystery is fraught with. Told through alternating chapters in the past and present, we're all trying to figure out if the new murders are connected to the old? & do either have to do with the women at 2 Cross Farms? I also thought the dynamic between Celine & Pip (& their family friend, Uma) was interesting.. I love finding myself in the middle of something totally different & realizing idk what is actually going on! This definitely did that for me, & the ending didn't disappoint.

Thanks to Dreamscape Media & Netgalley for letting me listen to this arc in exchange for an honest review.

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This is my first book by this author. I chose it because in the past I’ve enjoyed books narratede by Imogen Church, and she and Candida Gubbins did not disappoint. This is a very well-done audio book with dual points of view; past and present. If you like stories involving sisters and murders, you will enjoy this one! I could see a movie here.

The plot is creepy and cultish which is not usually my thing, but I kept listening as I was intrigued. The set up is quite innovative and has a definite feminist thread throughout. I did feel like I needed to suspend belief quite often as there were lots of coincidences and unrealistic events, in my opinion. That’s not a problem for me if the story is good and this was an inventive one.

I loved the character, Una. She was my favorite person even though she is not one of the main players. Celine and Brambles were the two we get to know in some depth but I’m not sure they grew as much as they could have. I couldn't really relate to either woman. I did feel that some of the people in this book, especially the mother, were quite one dimensional.

The ending was satisfying if fast and utterly unbelievable.

To be honest, I’ll probably read the next book by Ashdown in text format as I found this particular novel a bit long and unwieldy. I know I would be able to skim and that would have added to my appreciation of the talent here. There was too much repetition of facts we already knew – this reader is not stupid! I did keep reading as there was enough intrigue to keep me compelled to finish.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape.

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This book was enthralling, in the sense that I was in its thrall and had trouble not listening through the night. I had an early audio book, and the narrators added to the understanding of the characters and the tension with their readings.

Celine and Pip are somewhat estranged sister who are called home to their mother’s estate at the mother’s death. Their mother abandoned them and their sister, Vanessa, when they were only in their teens, leaving Celine to finish bringing up her sisters. Vanessa plays a big role in the story, as the murdered sister whose killer was never found. A close friend of their mother’s, Una, greets them at the house as executor of the will. Her years as a police investigator come in very handy as events transpire.

When another young woman is found dead in similar circumstances to Vanessa’s death, all three women become involved in getting Vanessa’s case reopened. Both of the victims are somehow related to a women’s commune (or is it cult?) nearby and the book moves back and forth between their investigation and the history and events of the commune. A theme of women’s abuse at the hands of men and their empowerment to move beyond it weaves through both story lines and results in both red herrings and a twist at the end of the book. There is a lot of tension as Celine attempts to make sense of conflicting clues and as the history of the commune is revealed. This plot is both suspenseful and thoughtful, and the book is very hard to put down.

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I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. Thank you to the Author, the Publisher and to Netgalley. This is the first book that I have read by Isabel Ashdown, and I really liked it. I gave the book 4 stars. I found that the big twist at the end was fairly predictable, but there was a lot that happened that was unexpected. I was definitely engaged in the story and found myself reading for longer than planned to find out what happened next. I would recommend this too anyone who enjoys a psychological thriller and I will definitely be reading more books by this author.

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33 Women, set in southeast England, tells the story of three sisters - Celine. Vanessa and Pip - as they clear up their mother's estate after her death. Middle sister Vanessa had been murdered some years previously and the killer was never identified, although the sisters are convinced it was her estranged boyfriend. Close to their mother's home is a refuge or commune for women, called Two Cross Farm, with a group of very private and secretive residents lead by a mysterious woman known as Seed. When another woman is found dead in the area, she is found carefully arranged in a way startlingly similar to Vanessa, and she bears the same tattoos as Vanessa, with two crosses. Who is the murderer, and are the killings linked in some way to Two Cross Farm?

I will admit I struggled to finish this audiobook and had difficulty staying with it. The story concept is fairly original and the narrators are quite good, however the pace at times is a little slow and drawn out. The character of Una is quite entertaining and adds to the enjoyment of the novel, and the theme of domestic violence is timely and relevant. However the twist at the conclusion seemed a bit of a stretch for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and also to Dreamscape Media for providing me with a copy.

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Celine and Pip have reunited to sort out their reclusive mother’s belongings after her death and prepare for her funeral. Within her belongings they find, what they hope, is a clue as to who may have killed their sister, Vanessa, who was murdered 15 years ago. They believe their sister was in residence at Two Cross Farm before her death, just as another woman who was recently killed in the same manner as Vanessa.
Determined to find the truth of what really happened to their sister Celine and Pip begin to investigate Two Cross Farm and their leaders.
Two Cross Farm, cult or community? There are always 33 women living here. Known as a safe place for those who have lost their way or have left a fearful domestic situation, the author has described Two Cross Farm as an idyllic place and way of life.
As you read or listen to this book you may not find Two Cross Farm idyllic or the 33 women living there serene as the author would have you think. The characters carry this book with an unbelievable, but excellent written plot as a psychological thriller with many twists and a surprise ending. Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Audio for and early audio version of this book. The comments and review are my honest opinion.

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Reviewing
33 Women
By Isabel Ashdown

33 Women starts out slow but the mystery will draw readers in and keep them invested in finding the truth behind Teo Cross Farms. As each woman’s story is uncovered readers get a sense for the everyday struggles that so many women face past and present, and the lengths they go to in order to escape.

The cultish refuge is cloaked in mystery and while many found salvation within its walls is it possible that for others it simply added to their hellish affair? Well written and beautiful narration by Imogen Church made this a 3.5 star read in my books.

I was frustrated with inconsistent pacing and the lack of well developed characters but it still grabbed my attention and left me feeling satisfied with the overall mystery.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars and a 14+ rating

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33 Women by Isabel Ashdown was a fast paced mystery thriller told in alternating chapters that took place in the past and the present time. Although Isabel Ashdown has written eight previous books, this was my first book I had read by her. I was impressed with her writing and complex plot along with the vivid and well developed cast of characters she presented. Both narrators, Candida Gubbins and Imogen Church, brilliantly narrated this book. I found the ending surprising but satisfying. It was not how I expected this book to end.

Two sisters, Celine and Pip, were reunited after many years, at their recently deceased mother’s riverside home in Arundel, England. Celine and Pip had been estranged from their reclusive mother for many years. Their mother had always chosen herself over her daughters. When the sisters were barely capable of taking care of themselves, their mother left for good. Back then, there were three sisters. Vanessa, the middle sister, had been brutally murdered over fifteen years prior to their mother’s death. Her murder was never solved and it still haunted both Celine and Pip. When the sisters returned to their mother’s home to put their mother’s affairs in order and bury their mother, the sisters found themselves in different roles now. Celine was now an unmarried lawyer and Pip was a wife and mother of two little girls. Celine and Pip had had little contact with each other over the years. Their mother’s friend, Una, had also joined them to provide support and help. Una was now a retired police detective and a long time family friend that had stayed in touch with both sisters.

Very close by to Celine’s and Pip’s family home was a neighboring women’s commune named Two Cross Farm. Years and years ago several women ran away and were considered missing. The women had several things in common. They had either been abused or had nowhere else to go. The women ended up at Two Cross Farm where they established a safe haven for women. The founding women established rules to govern themselves and to live by. Fern became its leader and the women thrived off the land and became self sufficient. They rarely if ever had contact with the outside world. Their world was made up of only women who had something to offer to the others or needed the other’s help in keeping them safe. Shortly after it’s establishment, a baby was born, and it was decided that it would someday be ordained as the new leader of Two Cross Farm. That baby would take over the responsibilities Fern had held as the current leader. The women were seen by outsiders as a cult or commune. No one bothered them or paid much attention to them until a murder occurred. The murder was scarily similar to the murder of Celine and Pip’s sister that she suffered almost fifteen years ago.

An investigation was started and it soon became evident to both Celine and Pip how eerily similar the circumstances of this murder was to that of their sister’s murder all those years ago. The most glaring similarity was the body placement and similar location. Who was this young girl? Why was she in Arundel? It soon became clear that she had lived at Two Cross Farm and worked as a cook there for a short time before her body was found. The women at Two Cross Farm soon became suspects as well. Their leader, a woman known as Seed, held a news conference and spoke to the public where she described the woman’s sudden disappearance from Two Creek Farm and their lack of any knowledge concerning her death. Celine and Pip wanted their sister’s murder case reopened. Perhaps the same murderer had killed both their sister and this young women. Then another murder was discovered and it was discovered that it had been carried out in much the same fashion as the other two murders. All three murders, although years apart, were being investigated now. Celine, Pip and Una suspected that the women at Two Cross Farm were not as innocent as they appeared. How could they prove their theories? Was it possible to infiltrate their cult and learn their secrets? Was Vanessa’s death linked to these other two deaths?

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of 33 Women by Isabel Ashdown. The diverse characters were believable and likable for the most part. There were several twists in this book that kept me guessing until the very end. I will look forward to reading more books by Isabel Ashdown in the future. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of 33 Women through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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What a creepy, twisted book! I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this story. The question of what has really gone on at the mysterious Two Cross Farm where only women are allowed builds suspense as the murders of 3 women linked to the elusive compound at various periods of time are investigated. I really enjoyed the multiple POVs told from both the past and present as they converge into one fluid conclusion. There were a few twists, but the biggest one literally made me gasp out loud. I did not see it coming at all! A great thriller that will have you questioning who to believe and who is being protected. Highly recommend grabbing this book in any form when it comes out July 29, but the audiobook is narrated perfectly!

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this Advanced Listening Copy.

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33 Women

I’m not one that usually summarizes a story in my review, but it's hard not to with 33 Women. Its an intricately woven story of two sisters, Celine and Pip, who are still recovering from the brutal loss of their sister 15 years ago, when their mother unexpectedly dies and they’re are stuck at her home to figure out her after-death affairs. Little did they know their mothers mansion of a home, was next door to Two Crosses farm, the communal home to 33 women, and many mysteries.

This story is a slow burn. A weaving of the past and the present in alternating views, to tell the story of Two Crosses, and the sisters lives, since the mid seventies to the present. I was sucked in almost the entire time loving the alternating views of Bramble, a founding member of Two Crosses, and Celine, the eldest of the sisters.

Loved:
The Cult-ish feel
The alternating view points
That there were lots of suspects
Family dynamics
The way the author cleverly brought up the beginning plot points that were “ah-ha!” moments after the “killer” was found out. .

Didn’t Love:
Very slow burn
Sometimes a bit repetitive
The ending was nicely wrapped in a bow, and it was overly perfect for me
One character that had too many character/plot holes

Overall I’m a sucker for all things cultish so I enjoyed it. But it's nothing out of the ordinary, and unless you're into cult and family dynamics, It may be a pass. It was definitely more drama/mystery than exciting thriller.

3.5

I really enjoyed the narrator, and It was easily sped up to 1.75. Her depiction of when people were upset was especially great. Her voice showed true emotions and made the story come alive.

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I thoroughly enjoyed 33 Women by Isabel Ashdown. Using the tried and true format of unfolding the story in both the past and present the novel was richly layered. The characters are interesting and while the overall secrets that were revealed at the end were not a surprise I still found them quite satisfying.

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grateful to have received this as an arc from Netgalley. as stated from other reviewers this book is truly captivating. There is a sense of hysteria at times and the narrators voice those times every well. its essentially a women's cult with murder and a psychological mystery. I look forward to reading more from this author since this is my first.

many thanks x

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This book was very slow to get into for me. I cared enough to continue reading because I was hoping for a little excitement. It turned out to be a pretty well written book that has twists and turns but still wraps itself up neatly. The narration is really what made the story for me!

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In 33 Women, the mysterious women's commune, Two Cross Farm is being investigated for the death of a woman bearing two cross tattoos. Celine and Pip are in the area taking care of their mother's funeral but they take notice of the death since it sounds strangely like their own sisters death fifteen years previously.

This was a good book to read all about the struggles of women on the daily. Each woman at Two Cross Farm comes to seek refuge from their own circumstances. It really made me sad to hear about what these women would do to get away from the men in their lives. There was definitely some twists along the way, however they were somewhat predictable. Celine was extremely stubborn at times that made me want to show her what her actions were doing to the people around her. I listened to the audiobook which had excellent narrators. I love listening to Imogen Church. For me, this was a 3/5 mainly due to my frustration with some of the characters and some predictable twists.

I received a copy of this audiobook free from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.

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33 Women by Isabel Ashdown, narrated by Candida Gubbins, Imogen Church

This is a strange story. There is a sense of hysteria at times and the narrators voice those times every well. For a story about a place that should be serene and free from the worries of the outside world, Two Cross Farm is rife with conflict over the years. It is a cult-ish women's commune with rigid rules that must be followed to the letter, with the penalty of permanent banishment if broken. Thirty three is considered to be the optimum number of inhabitants and there is a waiting list of women who are willing to shed all their "limpets", including children, in order to live at Two Cross Farms. Almost everything is considered an impediment to the tenets of this group and the women are cloistered for what the originators consider their own good.

The sister of Celine and Pip was murdered fifteen years ago and now that their estranged mom has died and left them a place that neighbors Two Cross Farm they realize that their sister had connections to the farm. In present day, a woman's body is found nearby and she has the same two crosses tattoo that dead sister Vanessa had. With the help of their retired their ex-police officer friend Una, they begin investigating suspicious events connected to the farm. The local police may have dropped the ball over the years when it came to following through on things going on in the area and could be doing the same now.

Celine and Pip, in the name of getting to the bottom of their sister's death, make very unwise decisions but I decided to turn off the most critical parts of my mind and see where this story took me. Two Cross Farms is a haven for women who are victims of abusive men and I can understand that Two Cross Farm might seem like a refuge from the oppression of the outside world although it also represents it's own kind of repression. This is really borne out by the ending of the book when we find out all the dark and dirty secrets of this farm and it's founders. Crazy things have gone on in the past and crazy things are going on now, at Two Cross Farms. Take this story with a huge grain of salt and you can be entertained by this psychological mystery.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC.

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