I have read Joanna’s previous books and enjoyed them. Each one is different, as is this one. The same style of writing though, which I love. The descriptions, the analogies and the clever humour. The main character Linda, working class, seeming older than her years is worn down by her husband and her mother and the every day until brochures for the previous householder start arriving……The minutiae of Linda’s life and her interactions with the people around are absorbing, especially when a body is found. The way the story is woven is so well done and the twists are genuinely surprising.. Much enjoyed.
Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest opinion.

During the pandemic we have all seen acts of kindness by those in the community and those in the health service who have faced distressing situations with compassion and humanity. In this novel by Jo Browning Wroe, William Lavery displays compassion and kindness that will affect him for the rest of his life. The novel unfolds with William travelling to Aberfan to help out following the landslide burying a school in 1966. William is an embalmer and this is his first job.
The novel follows Williams life, from his choir school days, university and training for his job, his marriage and the tangled emotional relationship with his mother. I was gripped by the Aberfan story line and Williams role helping out in the community. It is utterly heartbreaking and and potentially uplifting, celebrating the unsung heroes of the community in a role that I am sure many of us hadnt even considered before.
I loved the quiet pace of the book, following Williams life and the way that Aberfan opens and closes Williams story. I hope that this book will do well when released in Jan 2022.

Joanna Cannon is just so good at writing about normal, everyday life. You can just imagine the housing estate where Linda lives. All the gossip and excitement that arrives following the local murders.
Linda was so well written as well, quiet and unassuming but troubled. I thought she was a great character.
The story itself is about Linda and her relationships really. With her husband, mother and new friend Rebecca.
There is lots more to discuss but it would give away the main plot points. I'd recommend not reading too much about this before you read it to preserve the surprises.

I've read and enjoyed all of Joanna Cannon's books so was really looking forward to reading this. As usual. it didn't disappoint. The characters are so well defined, especially Linda, a rather despondent woman in an unfulfilled marriage with a dominating, interfering mother. Linda doesn't have any friends, so attempts to endear herself to a seemingly glamorous woman who had lived in Linda's house before her. Meanwhile, young women are being murdered on her housing estate, and she finds herself close to the police's main suspect. The twists were unexpected and rewarding, making the book a compelling page turning read.

Written in Joanna Cannon’s unique style of writing with a range of quirky characters and a clever storyline. This author is very adept at bringing characters to life and whether you like the protagonist, Linda, or not you get a good understanding of her insecurities and why she behaves the way she does.

The book held my attention throughout and I did not see the twist coming, however The Trouble With Goats and Sheep is still my favourite of her books.

I warmed to this book. It was a slow starter for me, and I struggled a little to work out what was happening, but once I got into the characters I found it an enjoyable read, and perfect for Joanna Cannon fans, or those who have yet to discover her style.

Having really enjoyed the author's previous books, I was very excited to read this new story. This is a book about a middle aged woman- Linda. The reader is taken through the story with Linda, hearing all of her thoughts and feelings about the situations she finds herself in. I initially found the story a bit slow to start and found Linda slightly irritating but, as the story unfolds you are drawn further into the intrigue, and I really wanted to know how this was going to end!!

Loved this book! Loved Joanna Cannon’s writing and this didn’t disappoint! It has a similar style to Three things about Elsie mixed with a bit of Eleanor Oliphant. The book kept me guessing until literally the last page...genuinely didn’t see the ending coming. Brilliant!

Another brilliant read from Joanna Cannon much in the style of her previous books which keep the reader guessing right up to an unexpected end. Well drawn characters with a good few of them being quite awful as the story unfolds but quite humorous as well. Lots of hidden depths with secrets as people see and feel what they want to often governed by prejudices. I loved the unexpected elements and the clever way that Linda, the main character, was depicted as the story comes together.

This book really hooks you! Linda is such a fascinating character and you never know if you should be laughing or scratching your head with her.

This is the first book of Joanna Cannon's that I've read - and I found it gripping.
On the surface Linda is a simple soul. Eager to please and slow to see what's going on in front of her. Socially awkward and easily led.
You could be mistaken in expecting a story of the murders of three women, however, the crimes happen and are just background noise to the main story of Linda.
The twists at the end are great and some were unexpected, to me anyway.
I can't wait for further books from Joanna Cannon.
Thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins UK for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read this gripping read in just two sittings, I was totally drawn to the characters and this had you hooked all the way though which kept me page turning until almost midnight.

Highly enjoyed this read and will definitely being checking out Joanna's other books.

Joanna Cannon's novel's are all very distinctive and A Tidy Ending is no exception. Our narrator Linda has just moved house but is dissatisfied with the move, her husband and her life in general. Her interest in local crimes is understandable given that some evidence is close to home, and Linda gradually reveals more about her past as she makes new friends. A twisty gripping read.

A Tidy Ending...
Just finished reading this, a very tidy ending! I have to confess I almost abandoned it part way through as I found the first person inner dialogue of the rather unlikable central character hard to engage with. However... no spoilers but things took some unexpected and interesting turns towards the end and a very juicy twist at the very end brought everything together nicely and made me very glad to have persevered!

This was a fascinating read that moved from the last to present and met me intrigued and guessing all the way along. Really well written characters, perhaps not overly likeable but they had real depth and believability. A plot twist at the end that I didn’t see coming but tied it all together well.

Every now and again a character comes along with whom, for good or bad, you become completely invested. Linda Hammett is one of those characters. She is complicated but naive, judgemental about the world but also desperate for acceptance. At the outset she is living a mundane life in the company of her boring husband, Trevor. Two things happen; there is a murder in the locality and Linda starts to receive upmarket catalogues intended for the previous owner of their house. These two events will change Linda's life forever. To say anymore would create spoilers.

Joanna Cannon is an astute and intelligent observer of the human condition. Her writing is incredibly witty, sharp and very funny. It is a delight to read. Her portrayals of social situations are pitch perfect. They make you laugh, squirm and curl your toes. The number of times, for various reasons, I said 'Oh Linda' were numerous.

This was a totally engaging read with a clever plot, an incisive narrative and a thoroughly British background. I adored it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my an absolute corker of a book. Three Things About Elsie was wonderful so I was really looking forward to reading this. Yes , granted the characters are not very likeable but that doesn't mean it's a bad book. I actually liked Linda, not sure why. The book is extremely well written with a wonderful turn of phrase that is so accurate about the minutiae of every day boring lives. I loved the writing style. In my head I could hear Alan Bennett narrating the whole book. It is so evocative (though definitely not a copy) of the Talking Heads series. It feels as though I am gushing somewhat but this book really does deserve high praise. So many phrases I am going to remember from this book that are just so spot on. The twists in this book were genuine twists and did keep me guessing. I was never quite certain how it was going to all end. There is a review on here that does give the game away (fortunately I never look at reviews until I have finished) which I think is unfair.
Alan Bennett needs to do a dramatisation of this book,

Joanna Cannon’s previous books were very different in style, yet hugely enjoyable, so I was delighted to be granted an ARC of this, her latest offering. Cannon’s latest protagonist is Linda, who has successfully left behind a traumatic childhood in Wales and is now ensconced in an ordinary suburban lifestyle revolving around her lacklustre marriage to Terry and her job in a charity shop. Neither Linda, Terry or any of the ancillary characters appear to have any likeable personality traits, something that could make reading this novel difficult, were it not for the serial killer plotline, and Cannon’s razor-sharp observations of human habits and frailties. Can there be a tidy ending to these different threads? This is a unique ‘unreliable first person narrator’ book that I recommend. I would like to thank the publishers and NetGalley for the free ARC I received and look forward to seeing what Cannon, such a versatile observer of contemporary Britain, will write next.

Very clever book! Read the whole thing in just a few short days - would definitely recommend! Didn't see the twist coming at all, loved it!

Absolutely brilliant read. The characters are really well-written and the story really keeps you interested. A great twist too. Highly recommended.