Walton, Jo - Farthing

[oyceter]

Much like Walton's Tooth and Claw, this is a fantasy take on a different genre, only this time, it's an English country-house mystery set in an alternate history instead of Trollope with dragons. It's equally brilliant.

It's 1949. Lucy Eversley Kahn is the daughter of a rather eminent British family. Her mother and her father both run in a political circle called the Farthing Set, notable for brokering a peace with Hitler in 1941 that has allowed him to take over most of Europe. Lucy has pretty much exiled herself from her family by marrying David Kahn, a Jew.

They've gone back to Farthing, the Eversley country house, for a party her mother is throwing, only an important politician of the Farthing Set is found murdered, and all clues point to David.

All the odd-numbered chapters are told from Lucy's POV (first person), and the even-numbered ones are told from the POV of the inspector assigned to the case (third person). I very much loved Lucy's voice; she sounds frivolous and feathery, but she's actually quite smart and down-to-earth under her mannerisms, and I really adored her. Carmichael's voice is less distinct, given the third person, but he turns into an interesting character of his own as well.

I also really like how the book proceeds as a "simple" murder mystery, but because of how Walton has structured the world, the characters, and the plot, each additional revelation about the mystery also becomes an additional revelation about the alternate history she's created. Even better, all this becomes a commentary on class and politics and anti-Semitism without being didactic in the least.

There are so many nifty details in the book that I don't want to say too much about them.

Anyhow, this is definitely a very good book, and I am still completely in awe of how Walton manages to write a perfectly cool mystery along with really awesome world-building and characters and manages to delve into anti-Semitism and fascism as well, all without ever preaching.

Highly, highly recommended.

Someone else on my LJ recently read this and adored it as well (jinian?), but I can't find the link for the life of me.

ETA: yay for people sending me links! Also, if you wrote something on the book, I'd love even more links (hint hint)

Links:
- sartorias' review
- oracne's review
- oursin's review
- gwyneira's review
- kate_nepveu's review
- yhlee's review
- tenemet's review

Comments

[oracne.livejournal.com]

I commented here:

http://oracne.livejournal.com/798235.html

[oyceter]

Ah, thanks! Ok, apparently many people on my flist read it and loved it too!

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I need to read that as soon as I run out of Kate Ellis' Wesley Peterson novels (another four have now arrived in the post, leaving me with two, I think, to track down).

Thanks for the rec.

[oyceter]

It's very good!

[oursin.livejournal.com]

I included it (http://oursin.livejournal.com/511816.html) in a round-up of recent reading a couple of weeks ago.

[oyceter]

Thanks! I've added the link.

[susanw.livejournal.com]

As it happens, it's waiting for me at the library to be picked up on my weekly holds run this afternoon. Now I'm looking forward to it even more.

[oyceter]

Yay! I'm still waiting for my library copy of The Privilege of the Sword to come in.

[gwyneira.livejournal.com]

Might've been me -- here.

I can't wait for Ha'Penny now.

[oyceter]

Thanks for the link!

Also, there's going to be a sequel? YAY!!!

[gwyneira.livejournal.com]

Two sequels, in fact. Ha'Penny is coming out from Tor next summer, I think papersky said recently.

I can't remember the title of the third book, and I don't think she's written it yet, but I've definitely heard it's planned.... Ah, yes, Half a Crown, according to her user info.

[oyceter]

My only response is: EEEEEEEEE!!!

[gwyneira.livejournal.com]

And also: nownownownownow! :)

[kate_nepveu]

I didn't say a lot about it, because I was reading in manuscript. I was planning to re-read for farthingparty but now I'm 99% not going. Anyway,

http://www.steelypips.org/weblog/2004/08/walton_jo_farth.php

[oyceter]

Thanks for the link!

I was very amused when I read the acknowledgements and found myself recognizing several people off LJ.

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Nooooo, I am sadly still waiting for the library to give me a copy.

But I have read The Privilege of the Sword and gotten it signed, so ha ha. :)

[oyceter]

Ohhhhh jealousy!