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One late spring evening in 1912, in the kitchens at Sterne, preparations begin for an elegant supper party in honor of Emerald Torrington's twentieth birthday. But only a few miles away, a dreadful accident propels a crowd of mysterious and not altogether savory survivors to seek shelter at the ramshackle manor—and the household is thrown into confusion and mischief.
The cook toils over mock turtle soup and a chocolate cake covered with green sugar roses, which the hungry band of visitors is not invited to taste. But nothing, it seems, will go according to plan. As the passengers wearily search for rest, the house undergoes a strange transformation. One of their number (who is most definitely not a gentleman) makes it his business to join the birthday revels.
Evening turns to stormy night, and a most unpleasant parlor game threatens to blow respectability to smithereens: Smudge Torrington, the wayward youngest daughter of the house, decides that this is the perfect moment for her Great Undertaking.
The Uninvited Guests is the bewitching new novel from the critically acclaimed Sadie Jones. The prizewinning author triumphs in this frightening yet delicious drama of dark surprises—where social codes are uprooted and desire daringly trumps propriety—and all is alight with Edwardian wit and opulence.
Ixachel
Posted May 9, 2012
I wanted to read The Uninvited Guests from the moment I heard about the book. Imagine my joy, then, when I won an advance reader copy on Goodreads!
Sadie Jones’ The Uninvited Guests introduces us to the eccentric, dysfunctional Torrington-Swift family. There is the self-centered Charlotte Torrington-Swift, her doting second husband Edward Swift, and the three children of her previous marriage: Clovis, Emerald, and Imogen (aka Smudge). They live at Stern, a stately manor in the English countryside, but financial issues could mean them losing it. Edward is off to secure funds to save the home while those left behind celebrate Emeralds twentieth birthday. Then, disaster. A train accident sends some restless uninvited guests their way, including one Charles Traversham-Beechers. He claims to know of Charlotte's past, and he may just be wicked enough to reveal it.
Of all the characters, the most likeable may be Emerald, the capable yet resigned-to-her-fate birthday girl, followed closely by her odd and neglected sister Smudge. Clovis is quite the snob, and Charlotte an absent and vain mother. We also meet the Swift-Torrington housekeepers Myrtle and Florence, and the guests invited to Emeralds soiree: John Buchanan, Ernest and Patience Sutton, and, of course, Charles Traversham-Beechers. They range from the bland to the vicious, though some change their tune by the books end.
The story itself is very entertaining and well written. Told in third-persons, the narration is funny, witty, and just a bit quirky. I found myself laughing on quite a few occassions. Many that books that claim to be humorous satire rarely hit their mark for me, but this book had its true laugh-out-loud moments. Though a satire, a comedy of manners, the bigger message of the novel is not lost. We see the worst brought out in these society folk, both in how they treat each other and how they treat those they believe are beneath them. But we also see them grow and learn. Some, as I’ve mentioned, mature greatly through the novel and are changed for the better by the experience.
This book is clever, funny, and thoroughly entertaining. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys satirical novels, and anyone who wants a good look at human nature at its best and worst. Or just anyone looking for a wildly adventurous and truly bizarre tale.
11 out of 13 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 3, 2012
I bought this book for my wife but needed a quick read so I picked it up. Normally this is not a genre I would read. The characters were well developed and while the plot at the beginning was not overly compelling there was enough interest in the characters to keep going. Once the uninvited guests arrive the story takes some interesting twists which I won't reveal here lest I spoil the plot. I'll just say the novel goes where I had no idea it was headed based on the start. Overall it was an enjoyable read.
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 15, 2012
I liked this book but it is not for everyone. It is a Austen-like mystery.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.nikkino
Posted August 2, 2012
This was an enchanting book. It was beautifully written and the tale was beautifully woven. I felt like I was there, and I was sad when the book ended.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 17, 2012
Didn't find it entertaining. Maybe because I didn't get the British humor. I thought it was boring and too imaginary.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 2, 2012
Very different type of book, reminded me of the old zwilight zone shows with rod sterling -
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 24, 2012
I'm not quite sure how to describe this book. I enjoyed, it but at the same time, found it a bit fragmented. It almost seemd as though the author shifted the story line while writing this book. It seemd to take a twist that didn't quite flow as smooth as it should have. Still, I did find I wanted to keep reading to see what happened next.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 17, 2012
I couldn't finish this book. The plot was so silly and ridiculous. I wasn't entertained nor did I care what happened to anyone in the book. What is the point of reading the novel when you have lost all interest in it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 9, 2012
I started this book and read over 300 pages and still could not understand what was going on. I found it very difficult to get involved in. Do not recommend!!!
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 18, 2012
This is an unusual tale with a few twists. British siblings Emerald, Clovis, and Smudge prepare to celebrate Emerald's birthday. Many "uninvited guests" arrive, creating stress for all, including the staff and the narcissistic mother. I enjoyed the humorous dialogue between Emerald and Clovis; however, I believe the plot could have been more developed, particularly, in the middle and end of the book.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 27, 2012
I may not have read the book but i met the author and let me tell you she is pretty nice. So if ya don't have anything nice ta say keep it to yo' self
1 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 21, 2013
Admittedly...The first 30 pages drag,but stick with it!
The story picks up pace,and is an enertaining read! I fell in love with the family, and was sorry to say goodbye to them at the end.
Anonymous
Posted March 25, 2013
Yes, this was an odd story, I enjoyed reading it. It was unusual and different. A+.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 10, 2013
Was looking forward to this novel, but was so frustrated with the characters of the house. So self-centered! Why could they not see that something was not right? Something strange? Enjoyed the antics of the little sister, but everyone else was absolutely immune to anyone else except their own interests. Unbelievable! I had figured out who the "Uninvited Guests" were way before they were revealed. Their were a few surprises, but you really wondered what they had to do with the overall story. Not as good as I anticipated, but glad I read it.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 8, 2013
Disjointed narrative , characters poorly developed,easily determined that people were dead..not worth the purchase ..one book to get from the library.
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 28, 2013
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0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 14, 2013
I really enjoyed it.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 16, 2012
3-, would not recommend
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 17, 2012
I bought this based on a recommendation in Family Circle magazine. Was extremely disappointed. Cliched characters, situations introduced and left unresolved, and the supernatural element was clumsily addressed. I'm willing to suspend disbelief, but not for writing as poor as this.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 15, 2012
Full of surprises!
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
One late spring evening in 1912, in the kitchens at Sterne, preparations begin for an elegant supper party in honor of Emerald Torrington's twentieth birthday. But only a few miles away, a dreadful accident propels a crowd of mysterious and not altogether savory survivors to seek shelter at the ramshackle manor—and the household is thrown into confusion and mischief.
The cook toils over mock turtle soup and a chocolate cake covered with green sugar roses, which the hungry band ...