The Excitements: Two sprightly ninety-year-olds seek revenge in this feelgood mystery for fans of Richard Osman
As seen:
By CJ Wray
avg rating
2 reviews
‘I will be thinking about Penny, Josephine and Archie for a while yet!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A fun and entertaining story that made me laugh out loud!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Highly recommend!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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A charming, uplifting and cosy mystery about two national treasures hiding official secrets and double lives – perfect for fans of THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB.
Revenge is a dish best served old…
Meet the Williamson sisters, Britain’s most treasured World War II veterans. Now in their nineties, Josephine and Penny are in demand, popping up at commemorative events all over the country. Despite their age, they’re in great form-sprightly and sparky, and always in search of their next ""excitement."" This time it’s a trip to Paris to receive the Légion d’honneur, accompanied by their devoted great-nephew, Archie.
Keen historian Archie believes his great aunts had minor roles in the Women’s Royal Navy and the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, but that’s only half the story. There’s a reason sweet Auntie Penny can dispatch a would-be mugger with a brolly.
This trip to Paris is not what it seems either. Scandal and crime have quietly trailed the sisters since the war. Now armed with new information about an old adversary, these much decorated (but admittedly ancient) veterans intend to settle scores, avenge lost friends, and pull off one last heist before the curtain comes down on their illustrious careers.‘Funny, thrilling and brilliantly researched.’ SJ Bennett
’It’s P.G. Wodehouse meets Dear Mrs Bird and it’s utterly wonderful.’ Annie Lyons
‘Utterly charming and engrossing’ Jenny Colgan
‘A glorious, rip-roaring adventure, so funny and charming, yet laced with unexpected moments of real tenderness and reflection’ Lucy Dillon’The literary equivalent to a perfect Martini, The Excitements is sharp, delicious, instantly mood-lifting and utterly intoxicating.’ Kate Eberlen
‘Not all heroes wear capes, some wear M&S cardigans! A triumph!’ Mike Gayle
‘A sublime mix of comedy, drama and adventure’ Jill Mansell
‘Just pure joy from start to finish.’ Alexandra Potter
‘I couldn’t get enough of the wonderful Williamsons. More please!’ Holly Hepburn
Reviews
Review 1
I really enjoyed this book, the sisters were hilarious, their adventures during and after the war, it was an easy read I couldn’t put it down.
Review 2
What did you like about the book? Enjoyed the back stories of the characters especially the sisters
Which themes from the book did you enjoy? Not sure
Did you have a favourite character. If so, who and why? There were several likeable characters. Don’t think I could choose just one
How did this book make you feel? I wasn’t sure about it initially but began to look forward to picking it up again fairly soon into the story. It made me feel happy
Who would you recommend this book to? Friends and members of other book clubs to which I belong
Review 3
Overall, I did enjoy reading The Excitements and found it an easy read, due to the informal narrative style. I particularly like novels in which the narration takes place over a couple of different time periods, and between different characters, moving backwards and forwards to build the story and plot, and I felt CJ Wray did this quite successfully.
Is the plot realistic? Not particularly, but to say that the novel is set during war time and the aftermath of war, it is an enjoyable novel that covers a variety of themes in a light touch kind of way. It is not heavy going and I found I was looking forward to picking it up again each evening. I found the writing wasn’t overly descriptive, which did encourage the reader to form their own ideas of settings and characters, so if you are the kind of reader who likes a lot of description, you might be a little disappointed that some of the characters are not fully developed, but I did find that there were real moments of fun and humour in the novel, particularly between the older characters in the novel.
Review 4
What did you like about the book? Well-drawn characters and a fast pace to the plot.
Which themes from the book did you enjoy? Feminist angle – empowered females in a disempowered era. Subversive take on age.
Did you have a favourite character. If so, who and why? Penelope – feisty and enigmatic.
How did this book make you feel? Joyful – a nice, easy and diverting read.
Who would you recommend this book to? Any of my friends and particularly as a good holiday read.
Review 5
What did you like about the book?
Really enjoyed getting to know the personalities of the sisters and their relationship with their great nephew. Lots of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing about their adventures when they were younger and their contributions during the war. I loved the sisters’ relationship with each other and their enthusiasm and positivity for life ‘Toujours gai’. Although nonagenarians, they were still interested in having fun and getting up to mischief. I really appreciated how Archie was always trying to plan ‘Excitements’ for them, even though they could be quite contrary on occasion and tricky to please.
I loved the whole story of the results of the DNA test and was delighted that Ralph/Edgar was still alive to speak to Josphine after a whole lifetime of not knowing his birth mother and that Archie had discovered he has a cousin.
Which themes from the book did you enjoy?
The story of Josephine being banished to Grey Towers to have the baby only to be told it had died.
Penny’s ability to distract and steal jewellery in order to raise money for people in need.
The sisters’ involvement in the WRENS and the FANY - interesting
Did you have a favourite character. If so, who and why?
Penny - she was so brave and daring and had such a kind heart.
How did this book make you feel?
Happy and uplifted - it is very relatable.
Who would you recommend this book to?
Most likely to my female friends and family. My 90 year old mum would really enjoy reading this, but the hardback would be too heavy for her to hold.
Review 6
What did you like about the book?
It’s a gentle, easy, most enjoyable read which I devoured in two days.
Which themes from the book did you enjoy?
CJ Wray interweaves the past and present well although I did have to keep googling some of the terms but that taught me a lot about WW2.
Did you have a favourite character. If so, who and why?
From the moment Richard Osman made old ladies fashionable, we have been waiting for two heroines as unlikely and relevant as Josephine and Penny.
Review 7
What did you like about the book? I found the book had a certain charm, much like the elderly sisters, the main characters, two nonagenarians, celebrated war veterans. Something about the innocence of the book reminded me of P.G.Wodehouse and his tales of Bertie Wooster and his butler Jeeves. Great Nephew Archie, devoted to his aunts was kindness personified and Auntie Penny an expert jewel thief, used her proceeds from crime to fund her charities. Despite several unexplained deaths, a highjack, arms dealer, an unmarried mother torn from her newborn baby, there was nothing unsavoury about the story. Penny and Josephine with all their idiosyncrasies and wit, were a joy.
Which themes from the book did you enjoy? I suppose I enjoyed the theme of old age refusing to give into the expectations of society but delighting in often behaving in the opposite way to that which was expected.
Did you have a favourite character. If so, who and why? I think it has to be Penny who was just so daring but I had a lot of sympathy with Josephine who had kept her secrets for so long and also Arlene who was so reliable and yet so talented in her own r and had secret ambitions of her own.
How did this book make you feel? I was surprised that I enjoyed this book, I usually like something “grittier”. I think this was due in part to the style of writing which seemed effortless and didn’t bore the reader with unnecessary prose.
Who would you recommend this book to? Those readers who enjoy books of a “gentler” nature, possibly those who know something of WW2 from family stories and those who I feel would appreciate the idiosyncrasies of the characters.
Review 8
What did you like about the book? I loved the way the story moved backwards and forwards again. There were hints in the story which were explained in the sections in the past.
Which themes from the book did you enjoy? The relationship between the nephew and his aunts, the differences in how the age gap was bridged was particularly interesting to explore.
Did you have a favourite character. If so, who and why? No, I thought they were all well developed and intertwined.
How did this book make you feel? I’ve read a few books recently that were not as uplifting as this one so it was an excellent change.
Who would you recommend this book to? My friends who enjoyed Richard Osman’s books.
Completely different to any other book I had read. Struggled sometimes with the different time frames. Very whimsical but also sad in parts.
