Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Pompomberry House

by Rosen Trevithick (Goodreads Author)

4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 · rating details · 68 ratings · 31 reviews

A writer's retreat seemed the perfect chance for Dee Whittaker to take her mind off her marital difficulties. However, she meets five of the most hideous writers ever to have mastered a qwerty keyboard, and her problems quickly multiply. Things escalate further when the handyman winds up dead. After fleeing from the island, Dee attempts to get her life back on track but be...more

Paperback, 1.0.0., 336 pages

Published August 10th 2012 by Kernow-Isca Publications (first published January 1st 2012)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 425)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Sep 21, 2012 Tim rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the story of a story. Dee Whittaker is an Indie writer. At the last minute, after someone drops out, she manages to get a place on a writers retreat at the tiny, remote cornish Pompomberry island. There she meets an array of the most pompous, grotesque, self-absorbed, hideous people you could possibly imagine. And a rather buff handyman. When, the next morning the handyman is found murdered, the authors (one of whom surely must be the murderer) are all i favour of a cover up. Dee flees t...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 17, 2013 Jacqueline Hopkins rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was not what I expected after reading the reviews and it is normally not the kind I read, but I felt the plot was well written and thought out that I couldn't put the book down. Though the items I mention below as to what I found wrong with the book, all of it combined didn't not stop me from wanting to find out who did what to whom.

There were a couple of places in Chapter 1 that I didn't understand. A couple of paragraphs could have been left out and we wouldn't miss the story line;...more This book was not what I expected after reading the reviews and it is normally not the kind I read, but I felt the plot was well written and thought out that I couldn't put the book down. Though the items I mention below as to what I found wrong with the book, all of it combined didn't not stop me from wanting to find out who did what to whom.

There were a couple of places in Chapter 1 that I didn't understand. A couple of paragraphs could have been left out and we wouldn't miss the story line; I didn't understand what the elderly people had to do with her being followed. And I had a problem with omniscient POV by the killer bothersome when we see what he is thinking about why he wants to kill Delilah; it seemed so out of place and could be removed without hindering the story line.

I had a huge problem with the author using parentheses in a fictional novel; they are so out of place as are table of contents in my opinion.

At the end of Chapter 2, I was confused as to who was talking in the second to last paragraph. In Chapter 3, there is so much dialogue with many characters in the scene that you do not know who is talking. I am one for using very little dialogue tags, but there are times when there are more than the two main characters in a scene that we need a little more of them or we start getting confused.

I also had a problem with the formatting and it did bother me. It is so much more easier to read when the paragraphs have a definite distinction of when they begin by indenting them more than one or two spaces. A half of an inch is much clearer. In some places the author did indent more, but most of the time the indents of the paragraphs were hardly there to notice.

There were some grammar errors, but not many, though another pass by a proofreader would't have been a bad idea. I am not sure how a body can sink into a table after they have rolled their eyes. I have to ask what a 'tingle panther' is? This is how it was used: It sent a tingle sprinting down my spine like a tingle panther. Since this was written in British English, this cold be British working I am unfamiliar with, but I am a curious person, so had to ask. And I liked this sentence, though I am hot sure why: My heart fell out through my vagina.

All in all this was a compelling read and I couldn't stop reading until I found out who the killer was. I liked the humor and loved the idea about the Macarena and who was going to perform it. Overall, I recommend this book and would read another book by this author. I rated it 4 stars just because of the plot and the mystery held my attention.(less)

like · see review

Oct 11, 2012 Dava Stewart rated it 3 of 5 stars

Once again, I find myself wishing there were degrees between three and four stars. This book is entertaining. It made me laugh a few times, and I ended up describing the plot to my husband which is a sure tip off that it was on my mind. I also couldn't predict the ending and was fooled by a little false foreshadowing.

So why not four stars? There was some weird stuff. There were a few places where the characterization was so uneven I stopped enjoying the story to try and figure out what I had mi...more

1 like · like · see review

Oct 07, 2012 Jonathan Hill rated it 5 of 5 stars

Reading 'Pompomberry House' by Rosen Trevithick has assured me that 'Seesaw' was no one-off. This author can write! When you relax reading a book, it's because you know you are in safe hands. Well, you're in safe hands here.

As an independent author myself, I was delighted and amused by Kindle, forum, and other author references dotted throughout the book. There is much to enjoy here for non-writers too though. The book is funny, very funny in parts. The author has a turn of phrase that is comica...more

like · see review

Aug 04, 2012 Andrew Lawston rated it 5 of 5 stars

Self-published authors have gained more public attention in the last couple of years than ever before, as ebooks have reduced the cost of production, and increased the scope for distribution. Now, you can debate the extent to which this is a good thing, but there's an undeniable curiosity about the phenomenon. Rosen Trevithick - already a successful self-published writer, has taken the zeitgeist's pulse, looked at her fellow authors (and, I suspect, at herself), and judged that the time was righ...more

like · see review

Aug 02, 2012 Ignite rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a warm, knowing and very funny elbow in the ribs of the epublishing community - writers, readers, forums, reviewers, all get a nudge and a wink in this clever spoof. A group of writers from a kindle forum meet at an Island retreat to produce and anthology. Afterwards, stories from the book begin to happen in real life. Spooky. Scary in fact, since some depict murder. The author has caught the excitement of the new era in publishing, and the desire of budding and experienced authors to es...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 12, 2013 Jane McBride rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book strikes a chord with me, probably because I am an Indie author. I think a lot of the reviewers that gave this a low rating don't get satire, which is unfortunate because their confusion drives down the rating of a good author. Anyway, every Indie nail was hit right on the head! The need to do your own editing and the resultant paranoia about mistakes-especially if the reviewers are the ones who are finding those mistakes in your 'finished' product. And then the reviews! A bad review ma...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 12, 2012 L.K. Jay rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: comedy

I blame this novel for making me late. I like it when this happens, I started reading Pompomberry House in the morning and couldn't stop until I'd finished. Thus making me late when I had to go out in the afternoon. This is a very funny satire examining the world of indie publishing that has characters that are mad, bad and literally challenged.

The group of indie writers and their hangers on are sharply captured, from the self-important Dawn to the bitter reviewer Enid. The plot is a clever past...more

like · see review

Oct 12, 2012 R.J. Askew rated it 5 of 5 stars

Once upon a time you had to be an educated gentleman to write a book. You had to have the leisure to do it and, quite likely, influential friends in London to help with the grubby biz of printing and publishing it. And of course you would probably be wealthy enough not to worry toooo much about your royalties, depending on your thirst for port wine.

Now anyone can write and publish a books. And we do in our thousands, millions even. There has never been a time like this. We may be living in a go...more

like · see review

May 08, 2013 Alex Roddie rated it 4 of 5 stars

An intelligent and hilarious satire on indie publishing

This book pleasantly surprised me in several ways. Firstly it was longer than expected (always a bonus!), the plot was more intricate than expected, and best of all, the references to indie books and indie publishing were both intelligent and insightful--and woven deeply into the plot. The satire varied between subtle references and overt slapstick, but it all worked well and had me laughing at many points. The author also has a delightful g...more

like · see review

Dec 06, 2012 B J Burton rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a delightful journey into the angst-ridden world of the indie author. No one escapes ridicule: the obsessively self-promoting, deluded 'authors'; the ascerbic reviewer acting as the self-appointed guardian of literary standards; the traditional publisher bewildered by the rapidly-growing, amorphous enemy at the gates. But this is much more than just a funny book accurately aimed at some deserving targets; it's an entertaining tale very cleverly structured using the obvious plot devices c...more

like · see review

May 11, 2013 Julie Powell rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this story from the start - the humour, the satire and the way it flowed. The twists and turns were fabulous, leaving us not quite sure what was going to happen. It was clever and at the same time insightful - especially where self-publishing is concerned...maybe this is what 'indie writers' should do! No, I don't mean that - I think!

I have to say that I adored the humour best of all, especially the descriptions and opinions of the '5'. That's all I will say because I don't give spoilers...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 31, 2012 Kath rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have been waiting for the release of this book ever since the author started teasing about it on some of the forums we both visit... I watched the cover being designed, took part in the quizzes and eagerly watched the trailer which was released a few days before the book itself. Was I worried that the book wouldn't live up to the hype and my expectations... well, yes and no. Yes cos I did build it up in my head a tad and I do tend to get overexcited about things and No cos the author's track r...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 18, 2012 Lubna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

Over the past one year or so, I’ve been interacting with Indies a lot. Be it via GoodReads – or rather various discussion groups in GoodReads, on LinkedIn groups or email interactions while agreeing to review or god forbid – not review their books.

Fortunately, most of the Indies I’ve interacted with are kind, generous, creative souls, willing to learn from each other and share their knowledge. Only a few whom I encountered had the most pompous egos ever and a critical pin-prick could have them...more Over the past one year or so, I’ve been interacting with Indies a lot. Be it via GoodReads – or rather various discussion groups in GoodReads, on LinkedIn groups or email interactions while agreeing to review or god forbid – not review their books.

Fortunately, most of the Indies I’ve interacted with are kind, generous, creative souls, willing to learn from each other and share their knowledge. Only a few whom I encountered had the most pompous egos ever and a critical pin-prick could have them shoot from their chair up in the air like a wailing balloon, designed to screech as it soars upward and slowly deflates.

Dee, the main protagonist in this book and an Indie to boot, is not as lucky as I am. Hoping to run off from a chaotic personal life – rather a jobless, careless husband who refuses to grow up, she heads off to a writer’s retreat pretty much in the middle of no-where. If being glared at and mocked at by evil sea-gulls wasn’t enough, she finds herself surrounded by larger than life whackos, who presumably are gathered here to let their creative juices flow and pen an anthology.

If Dee hasn’t read their book – she just isn’t well read, if Dee doesn’t lust for one of them – well something must be wrong with her. The book is dripping with humour and is an enjoyable satire on Indies, it is replete with fearsome critics and Kindle book review groupies.

Dee is one of the first arrivals at Pompomberry House, where the retreat is being held. She anxiously waits for others to arrive and lustful, well presented Annabel, who has splashed her photograph all over the cover of her book is the first Indie she meets. Her claim to fame? ‘Falling for Flately’ is a number one best seller. “It got to the top of Welsh contemporary romantic suspense fiction priced at under two pounds for three hours.” When Dee asks what the book is about, she learns it is about a girl who falls for a man called Flately. The twist in the story – Flately is her boss. “Otherwise it would be so boring,” explains Annabel. The others arrive, some of them, like the handsome Rafe prefer to make a grand entrance - each of them, Dee included, are well-conceived characters bursting with Indie pride.

They settle down and the workshop begins. Each of them pulls out a piece of paper from a hat stating something about someone in the group. Predictably, they have to guess who that person is. Dee picks up a chit that reads: I die tomorrow! Biff, the care-taker dies. Dee flees from the island, even as the others decide to hush up this murder. Unfortunately the police do not believe her.

The wild carnival ride continues, as the stories in the anthology begin to come true (Dee’s contribution was published without her knowledge and is in first draft, but let me not digress). So, a pig jumps over a cliff (it is rescued), a marriage is staged for a garden gnome with a China doll, a human foot is washed ashore and Dee gasps as she realises the story she had contributed is about a murder! There are darker stories contained in this anthology, will these also come true? The only person Dee can turn to is her estranged husband – Gareth.

The author in this well written satire spares no one, not the egoistic Indie writers, nor the self-acclaimed critics (some of whom live to criticise), nor the forum members. Adding an element of whodunit provided the right measure of spice. An enthralling read, but my Indie friends (and that goes for me – perhaps a wanna be Indie author) do need to have the ability to laugh at some hard truths cleverly captured in these pages.

I would say it is a must read for all Indies, or at least for those who have a sense of humor. Non-Indies will also enjoy this book.

I am so glad that I won this book as a GoodReads Giveaway. Thank you Rosen for shipping it all the way to India.
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jan 28, 2013 Natasha (Diarist) Holme rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Self-published writers and readers who enjoy a good laugh

Shelves: funny

Laugh-out-loud funny, wonderfully observed, and intelligent.

Rosen Trevithick very cleverly throws up, then dashes, clues aplenty. So often I thought I'd got it, only to find moments later that I was still scratching my head. I was delightfully lost most of the time.

The ending seemed to speed up rather and to lose structure (so many loose ends to tie up), however this did not detract from the overall impression that Pompomberry House is a high quality, deeply entertaining and clever book by a ver...more

like · see review

Nov 06, 2012 David Wailing rated it 5 of 5 stars

We've all read books that are 'so bad they're good'. Pompomberry House is a first: a great book that is all about an atrocious book!

Anyone remotely familiar with ebooks and indie publishing will find lots to enjoy, ranging from clever satire to outrageous gags. There's an entertaining mystery, a reverse whodunnit (a whowilldoit), and a rollercoaster relationship between Dee and her estranged husband as they try to prevent murder.

But what made me laugh the most were the appalling authors of 'The...more

like · see review

Apr 09, 2013 Maggie Bramley rated it 4 of 5 stars

I think this book could best be described as a light-hearted black comedy, both amusing and entertaining and an easy read. The story, which is completely unbelievable, concerns six self-publishing "indie" authors, five of whom are extremely O.T.T. and all of whom are obsessed with how high their books are in the Amazon top 100 chart. There are also a lot of references to Kindles and I can't decide whether the author approves of them or not but, for the record, I read it on my Kindle.

1 like · like · see review

Feb 26, 2013 Paul rated it 4 of 5 stars

I must admit this is not the sort of book I would usually read but it was certainly entertaining enough for me to consider reading another by the same author.
A group of writers descend on Pompomberry House to write an anthology of stories.
While the seagulls swoop and soar the events begin to take unexpected twists and turns as the authors suffer the fates which befell the characters in their books.
Or do they.....?
This book is one where the moment you think you have worked out whodunnit your hope...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 04, 2012 Karen (Kew) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: forum-authors-read

I giggled and laughed my way through this book. This is a tongue-in-cheek look at the world of the indie writer, forums, fans and critics. Interwoven is a murder mystery as the plots of the stories in The Book of Most Quality Writers starts to come true. I enjoyed the deliberately over-the-top prose, the plot surprises and the humour. Very enjoyable.

like · see review

Jul 31, 2012 Joo The Grand Inquisitor rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Pompomberry House by Rosen Trevithick is one of my most anticipated book in my Kindle-owning being. So was it worth the wait and the hype and the teasing? ................ Yes, yes, yes, yes.

I'm sure I recall Rosen actually getting the idea for this particular book from a forum, where she couldn't decide between one story or the other and decided to do both. It is the tale of Kindle forum life and Indie authors, but on a much exaggerated scale (I hope ;p).

As a whodunnit, you are kept guessing al...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 28, 2012 Patti (Ogre for Hire) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Once again Rosen has succeeded in crafting a delightful story, full of humour yet delving into the more serious side of human nature and relationships.
A book not to read in public unless you don't find bursting into gales of laughter on a bus or train at all embarrassing.

like · see review

Dec 23, 2012 Lunar Lunacy rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars, but I feel bad for indie writers, so I bumped it up. Funny, and us Kindle readers know how it is. Everyone either reads mysteries or romances, according to the bestsellers list. Why else was '50 shades' up there for so long? The end was rushed, I felt, with (view spoiler) I don't know, perhaps I didn't enjoy the narrative style. It feels disjointed to say 'Oh, look, so and so grabbed a gun and is now pointing at me' (just an example) vs. 'Joh...more

like · see review

Aug 08, 2012 J.S. Egan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Worst! Book! Ever!

I refer, of course, to 'The Book Of Most Quality Writers' - the truly dreadful (and thankfully entirely fictional) short-story collection created by the principal characters in Rosen Trevithick's brilliant farce - Pompomberry House.

Although a lengthy novel, the experience of reading it is somewhat akin to watching an Alan Ayckbourn play - especially the ultimate descent into immaculately scripted chaotic mayhem!

Of course, you COULD wait for the inevitable movie... but why wait,...more

like · see review

Oct 10, 2012 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't really go for satire but I loved this book. The mystery, the odd characters, are just plain fun. If you need a boast or are in a reading rut this book is a must read.

1 like · like · see review

Oct 16, 2012 Mo rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a farce and seemed to get more a bit slapstick towards the end. It was amusing and fun to read.

1 like · like · see review

Mar 27, 2013 Mallory Anne-Marie Forbes marked it as to-read

Shelves: pick4me-potentials, 2013-authors-new-to-me-challenge, 2013-dustbuster-challenge, 2013-personal-reading-challenge, 2013_reads, armchair-cornwall, march-2013_reads, armchair-london, armchair-england

Cozy Cornish mystery: so far-soothing

1 like · like · see review

Oct 10, 2012 A.B. Shepherd rated it 3 of 5 stars

Review coming soon.

1 like · like · see review

Nov 02, 2012 Kathleen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book! At a time when it is sometimes difficult to find books without witches, vampires or magic; this books was a wonderful treat.

The characters were so richly built that their "unbelievable- ness" was actually totally believable. They were such vile people that I couldn’t wait for the author to provide me more.

The plot was perfectly twisty without being trite or unbelievable. A great who-dunnit mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed. Kudos!

1 like · like · see review

Oct 20, 2012 Sharron rated it 1 of 5 stars

I really tried to like this book, I just don't think it was for me

like · see review

Oct 27, 2012 Nick Lowe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: goodreads

A marvelously satyrical look at the world of indie publishing. Funny and enormous fun to read.

1 like · like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 14 15 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Goodreads Authors...: The Worst Book Ever Written?	46	415	Apr 02, 2013 05:28pm
Pompomberry House Paperback Out Now	2	8	Oct 21, 2012 05:50am
UK Amazon Kindle ...: Pompomberry House - Rosen Trevithick	19	33	Oct 09, 2012 12:31pm
Free short story - A Royal Mess	1	7	Aug 15, 2012 02:25am
UK Book Club: The Rosen Trevithick Thread	18	44	Aug 15, 2012 02:19am
Goodreads Authors...: Pompomberry House - a satirical look at the emerging world of indie publishing	2	135	Jul 30, 2012 03:03am
Books, Blogs, Aut...: A satirical look at the emerging world of indie publishing	1	11	Jun 23, 2012 04:52am

combine
Other Editions (2)

Videos About This Book

Add a comment

Genres

Mystery

7 users

Humor

4 users

Mystery > Cozy Mystery

4 users

Suspense

2 users

Thriller > Mystery Thriller

2 users

Adventure

2 users

See top shelves...

About Rosen Trevithick

Rosen is a British bestselling author, who writes fiction for children and adults.

She was born in Cornwall and grew up on Restronguet Creek. She studied Experimental Psychology at St Catherine's College, Oxford, before moving back to the West Country. She now lives on the south coast of Devon with two imaginary cats, fantasising about getting a real one.

In 2011 Rosen was an aspiring author. Writin...more

More about Rosen Trevithick...

Books by Rosen Trevithick

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Pompomberry House

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Pompomberry House
avg rating	preview: Pompomberry House Goodreads rating: 4.00 (68 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14762529-pompomberry-house?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348230726l/14762529.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14762529-pompomberry-house?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Pompomberry House by Rosen Trevithick[/url]

Pompomberry House

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website