Book 1 ‘The Four Streets’
Liverpool during the 1950’s was seen as a prosperous place for new and exciting beginnings to those from Ireland. In a tight-knit Irish Catholic community of four streets we follow the lives of two families and their neighbours. The men work on the docks whilst the women stay at home and look after their ever-growing families.
The book starts with tragedy in the second chapter as we lose the most beautiful and kind-hearted member of the community through childbirth. However, Bernadette’s spirit never truly leaves, and she is especially needed both for her daughter Nellie and her best friend Maura.
Unfortunately for Maura, after Bernadette’s death, things don’t seem to get any better. Jerry, Bernadette’s husband, moves on far too quickly and with the deceitful and cold Alice who makes life very difficult for poor Nellie. Maura’s eldest daughter Kitty becomes a victim of sexual abuse from the most unlikely member of the community. Things quickly escalate quickly when his identity is revealed and a murder is committed and Kitty is pregnant.
Book 2 ‘Hide her Name’
The second installment in the story begins exactly where the previous book left off. Kitty is still pregnant with a dead mans child. This secret is so dangerous that is has been decided that she must go to Ireland to give birth. The family therefore have to make a devastatingly tough decision to change Kitty’s name and leave her in a laundry mill/convent resembling something similar to the ‘Magdeline Sisters’.
Meanwhile in Liverpool the police aren’t giving up their search for the truth. We are also introduced to one of my favourite characters within the trilogy – Daisy. Daisy is the former housekeeper for the deceased Priest and knows a lot more than she should, but she has been told that should she spill any secrets that would equal a one-way ticket to hell for her.
Book 3 ‘The Ballymara Road’
On Christmas morning 15-year-old Kitty Doherty gives birth in a hostile Irish convent. The baby is then immediately adopted by a wealthy Chicago based family. However not long after the adoption it becomes obvious the baby is sick and only his mother can save him.
In Liverpool things are starting to calm down and the community is rebuilding itself after all the dramas. A charismatic new priest arrives with his sister and things are looking up for the residents of the four streets. The police are close to solving the double murder – can Daisy be the one to save the day?
I really didn’t expect to be as gripped with this series as I was. The writing is very familiar and comforting – and I found all three books easy to read, despite all the tragedy. The story is truly harrowing and at many times I would find myself desperate for any form of joy to enter the story.
It was a welcome relief that there was a happy ending. Nadine Dorries comes from a working class background not far from the area the books are set in. This comes across in the writing and this was a surprise to me considering her political stance.
The storylines within this book ignited a few moral issues for me. In particular the actions of the nuns at the convent I found exceptionally disturbing and completely inexcusable. When discussing this with some family members and friends I was quite shocked that there were some comments defending their actions or making excuses. Mainly saying that they felt they were doing the right thing and didn’t know any better.
My stance remains strong that the actions of these nuns was and always will be completely immoral and there are absolutely no excuses.
Bekiness 