The Durham Trilogy

Durham #1-3

by Janet MacLeod Trotter

Emotional tales of love, war and survival against the odds; The Durham Trilogy follows the lives of 3 remarkable heroines and their families in Durham mining villages, through the heart-breaking and momentous times of strikes, poverty and world war. Stirring, passionate and uplifting.

The Hungry Hills: The Great War is over but life in Whitton Grange mining village is hard and dangerous. Louie Kirkup fears becoming a spinster drudge until she sets eyes on 'Red' Sam Ritson: hard, muscled and a natural leader. But the General Strike looms and Louie fears for the fate of her village and unborn child, as the strain takes its tragic toll.

The Darkening Skies: When pretty Sara Pallister's father dies she is taken in by a bullying uncle in Whitton Grange pit-town. Here she is irresistibly drawn to motorbike-riding Joe Dimarco, wild son of the extrovert Italians who run the ice-cream parlour. But as war comes and hostility to the Italians erupts into violence, Sara and Jo's passionate love seems doomed.

Never Stand Alone: An emotionally charged family drama set against the momentous backdrop of the 1984 Miners' Strike that divided a nation. Rebellious Carol defies her family to marry miner Mick Todd, but the strike brings tragedy, shocking secrets and tests their love to the limits.

1571 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 12, 2013

About the author

Janet was brought up in the North East of England with her four brothers, by Scottish parents. She is a best-selling author of 24 books, including the hugely popular INDIA TEA SERIES, THE JARROW TRILOGY and a childhood memoir, BEATLES & CHIEFS, which was featured on BBC Radio Four. Her novel, THE HUNGRY HILLS, gained her a place on the shortlist of The Sunday Times’ Young Writers’ Award, and the TEA PLANTER’S DAUGHTER and IN THE FAR PASHMINA MOUNTAINS were nominated for the RNA Historical Novel Award. Her India-set novels, such as THE RAJ HOTEL SERIES, are inspired by her grandparents who lived and worked in India from the 1920s to '50s.
A graduate of Edinburgh University, she has been editor of the Clan MacLeod Magazine, a columnist on the Newcastle Journal and has had numerous short stories published in women’s magazines. Aged 18 she climbed on a bus and went to Kathmandu - the result was a mystery novel, THE VANISHING OF RUTH. Her second mystery, THE HAUNTING OF KULAH is set on the remote Outer Isles of Scotland. She has also written a Scottish historical novel, THE JACOBITE LASS, based on the epic story of Scottish heroine, Flora MacDonald.

Reviews

[catherine pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am from the North East of England so understood colliery life, I could not put these books down, amazing stories

[joyce brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow,!!!!

I have read other books by Janet McLeod Trotted and anticipated this collection eagerly.
I was not disappointed. There is only one word to describe this trilogy - EXCELLENT.
Janet writes with such knowledge about life in the troubled times of the people of County Durham. You really feel part of their lives, sharing their ups and downs, their jubilation and heartache.
T g bank you Janet for writing these tales and I cannot wait to read more of your books.

[Ann Cleary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Durham Trilogy takes us through WWI, to the 1926 strike and Jarrow March. It continues, leading us perfectly through WWII and the hostility suffered by Italian families. Then on to the misery of the minors and their families during the strike of 1984. Janet MacLeod's writing shows there were many similarities between the 2 strikes and shows how, even war heroes can be deemed criminal.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this and the recurring history set by strikes within the mining industry and the huge personal cost together with the huge sense of grievance between families, generations after the wrong occurred.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

love these all in one package very emotional stories of the hardship through the durham miners strike

[Sheila]

Excellent

Really enjoyed this book. Looking forward to reading the next instalment. Recommended. Can't write 8 more words haha sorry sorry