After Mrs Hamilton Paperback – 26 Nov. 2012

Oh. My. GOD…This book was epic!Clo, and her friend Laura whose lives are both dramatically change when they two women come along and become a part of their lives, that emotionally changes them forever. An interwoven sequence of events, and past secrets make an intricate story of how lives can be altered, and connected even if it is unknown at the time of meeting.Where to start! Literally loved every second of this book and was drawn in and hooked from the very beginning. It is slow to start, but that builds lots of intrigue, and had me wondering and questioning what would happen next. Each character in the fabulous cast has their part to play in adding to the mystery, creating uncertainty, and giving this book a lovely noir feel. I was literally able to see the imagery as I read, as if the story were playing out as a black and white movie, in homage to those Hollywood greats of the golden era, and with all the glamour too.I was facilitated by intricately woven web that formed this plot, and by the end on the edge of my seat as all was revealed!!! The balance between each characters story was just write, and gave enough for the reader to be able to connect with each and every one of them on an emotional level. Absolutely brilliant.I have never read a book where I felt like I did reading this. I was conflicted, my moral conscious telling me how this should be received, and my heart saying ‘shut up! You know you love this twisted plot!’ and it’s true. So addicted. It was very realistic, and yet completely absurd at the same time, but that’s life; always something waiting to surprise you!I genuinely can’t fault this book! It is slow burn, intimate, tension building, thrilling, exciting, and yet so deliciously dark in some ways, that I just can’t help but love it!!!Loads of chemistry between the characters, especially Fran and Clo who were definitely my favourites. I mean who doesn’t love an age gap romance, and Fran is so elegant I instantly fell in love with the very idea of her. Clo was such a mess I could relate, and her crush on Fran, hot damn did I get the instantly attraction, and the obsession. Laura and Susan were a very different dynamic, but that connection between them was so emotionally charged I was totally invested in them.You just gotta read this, and make up your own mind, but I LOVED LOVED LOVED IT!!!

Wow... Wow...Having started this book about 36 hours ago, it has consumed me for this entire period. Read this until 2.30 in the morning, then hurried home from work to finish it just now.What a fantastic read. Well worth it's recent Goldie nomination.Loved the characters, particularly Fran and Clo.Loved the way it left you guessing/fearing the entire time (right up to the last page).Loved the fact that it was likely that all the characters were in some way mixed in this big secret from the past.Loved that the story telling was handled so well, the revelations were precisely that and didn't feel like a writerly (?) exercise in playing with the reader's emotions.Loved the quality of the dialogue and realness of the emotions and reactions.Loved the fact that while I have read some very good books in the past 12 months, I have a feeling that this one will stay most vividly in my memory for some time. In fact I am looking forward to having an opportunity to re-read this shortly, so that I can enjoy the writing again after my initial headlong rush to find the truth behind the secrets.Loved the food - I want to know where i can get a treacle sponge ball.I loved this book (if you hadn't already guessed!).Not a usual romance, certain elements (if taken in isolation) would not usually be my cup of tea, but in the hands of this author have be combined to make a truly original, and superb entry in the Lesfic genre. Rather like Clo's shortbread.Read it now, you will not regret it.

The plotline gets a little bit ridiculous by the end (I won't post any spoilers but Laura and Susan... REALLY?) but I was really engrossed by the storyline with Mrs Hamilton and Clo. The quality of the writing was very good. There's quite a low bar of quality for lesbian fiction (sorry - but true!) but I thought this was a genuinely engaging and well written book that I would recommend to others. Part of what I like about Clare Ashton's writing is there is always a good romp around London/England, and I thought this book did this very well.

This is a good read - undemanding with some twists and turns to keep you interested. It is cheering to see the "older woman" getting some action given the media images of women that surround us. Clare Ashton is no great prose stylist and frankly I think she could reign in the anatomy lessons that are some of the sex scenes, that said this is an enjoyable book.My only quibble is that one of the story lines requires the reader to believe in an utterly improbable plot device. I think Ms Ashton's editor might have gently suggested that one or other of these characters be given a visual impairment of some sort..

I thoughly enjoyed her first book, Pennance, and I enjoyed this one too. If I am honest, I think I enjoyed the first one more than this one, probably because it didn't move from one character to another and concentrated on just the main character. Mind you, that was because I was so keen to find out more about the character I was reading about I didn't want to move to the next, until I did and then I didn't want to move on from them either. Well you get the picture.I am also pleased that this book actually tackled sex, the first book didn't and I found that a disappointment. Yes, I know you don't need sex in a book to make it a good book, but for me, after the build up, holding hands doesn't quite cut it. Anyway both are excellent reads and it is clear that Clarke Ashton is a brilliant writer. Her stories draw you in and that for me is a sign of a cracking good story well told. I look forward to her next book.

I've spent the last three nights on a breathtaking roller coaster of emotions. Clare Ashton's book "After Mrs Hamilton" really shook me up.Her book "The TellTale" brought back to me the images of my childhood and adolescence, with all its pain and injustices. “After Mrs Hamilton" has made me look in the mirror of my life shaped by grief, pain and unfulfilled love.The protagonists actually suffer all the time, are taken incredibly hard by fate and (unlike me) always find the strength to get up again.It took a lot of strength for me to read the book. And yet it's the best book I've read this year so far: so real and true to life!I highly recommend this book (as well as all other Clare Ashton books). Don't get me wrong: the author doesn't just write "dark" stories: "The Goodmans" and "Poppy Jenkins" are very humorous books.Thank you, Cate Ashton, for your beautiful books!

I thought about waiting to write my review as I was so taken with this incredible book.I started it a long time ago then put it on hold because of health problems. When I came back to it, I couldn’t stop reading.So many intrigues, such wonderful and loving main characters...At a moment, I even thought it was too much, but no, all is right and connects perfectly.I would recomment this book to women who have lived through some pains and sorrows.I will definitely reread this book in a few years.Thank you Clare Ashton.

The characters are amazing but my first read of this book left me disturbed on a couple of levels. But it haunted me. I was compelled to reread it and the emotions grabbed me as the layers of it fell away. Each individual action in the past had a repercussion, and the actions gathered together with devastating results. So worth reading. I'd like to give it more stars.

C'est un roman vraiment très bien écrit, descriptions et dialogues fluides, des personnages bien creusés et touchants, et peut-être même plus atypiques que la plupart des romans romantico-dramatiques lesbiens. Le début a été un peu difficile à lire (j'ai du le relire plusieurs fois) parce que tous les personnages arrivent en même temps. Donc il a fallu un peu de temps avant de bien cerner qui-est-qui.L'intrigue est vraiment très bien construite parce qu'une fois qu'on a bien discerné les personnages, on ne lâche plus le livre. Elle est tellement bien construite qu'on ne s'attend pas du tout à une telle fin. Elle est tellement tellement bien construite que j'ai eu du mal à refermer ma mâchoire ! Et après coup, j'arrive toujours pas à me décider si j'ai adoré ou détesté l'histoire !En tout cas, c'est un roman qui ne laisse pas indifférent !

A twisting tale of sex, secrets, and obsession is right! This book was amazing in how it kept me completely focused and at the same time slowly putting puzzle pieces together. It's like an incredibly well written mystery without a murder. By the time I finished and was able to see the completed puzzle that Clare Ashton masterfully wove, I was truly impressed. To bring all the details to a close the way she did and keep the story believable and relatable for the reader was wonderful. It is one of those stories you want to pick up and read again to see if you missed any clues along the way. I know I'm not saying much about the specific story, but I fear that if anything is said, it would ruin it for future readers. Just know that Clare Ashton brings to life some really great characters and a very complete story that dangles the carrot for the reader all the way to the last page. Highly recommend!