The Nightingale's Nest

by Sarah Harrison

Left a young widow by the Great War, Pamela accepts employment as amanuensis to the Jarvises, a charmingly eccentric couple whose elegant Highgate house is a mecca for artists. She is particularly drawn to the work of a young woman, Suzannah Murchie, whose powerful portraits adorn the Jarvises' walls, and to the subject of one of the portraits, John Ashe.Ashe is a man of contradictions - handsome, but horribly disfigured; ruthless, but charitable; wealthy, but secretive. When she agrees to work for him, Pamela is only half aware that she is entering into a pact with the devil.For Ashe has gained wealth and influence by preying on the weaknesses of others, and although Pamela keeps her distance from his activities, she cannot avoid being tainted by them.

Genres: Contemporary

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Laraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2-4 stars. I wanted to rate this book higher and to like this book more. Pamela is widowed after a very brief marriage in WW1. Dissatisfied with her boring job and her lecherous bully boss, she starts a new job with a couple who own an art gallery and host wonderful parties and allow artists to stay at their home. This new life suits Pamela well and she flourishes. But then she meets the frail artist Suzannah and the badly wounded but rich Ashe. Persuaded to work with Ashe part time, she discovers what he is really like and makes a deal with the devil to further her own goals. But thus comes at a cost to her and others. I thought the first 3/4 of the book was strong and I enjoyed the read, but the last part of the book felt rushed, as if the author hurriedly recapped characters and decades of living. The ending was a disappointment to me.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting. Jarring difference between the story I thought I was reading and the reality of it. Pamela a WW1 widow, married for a mere 3 weeks, becomes an administrative assistant first to a art curator and his wife and then also part time for a disfigured veteran who rings night clubs and associated nefarious businesses. Pamela is almost passive in her own life, and shows no real strength of character before somewhat oddly spurning her new love, keeping the secrets of Mr Ashe’s underhand business activities and effectively taking hush money to start a home for unwed mothers. All a bit odd and unlikely. Not a take of strength, redemption and philanthropy so much as a take of typing letters, enjoying art work and almost but not quite falling in love. Utterly forgettable.

[Margaret Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it but it was rather a strange read about the background of a lady who set up a hostel for “ fallen women “in the 30’s. Hard to fathom why she gave up marriage with a wonderful doctor for life as John Ashes secretary.

[Ann Tuxford · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not enjoy when I started it. Didn't finish it.

[Carien · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm having very mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand it's very well written, there are some very interesting characters and the story is also very intriguing. Then on the other hand...... there's Pamela.

Pamela was accusing people of things and condemning them for it while she was doing those things herself as well. An in other things she had a very twisted view on the world as well. I got the feeling the people she interacted with were not how she saw them and I really wanted to see things from another viewpoint to get a beter grip on them. All in all I read this book totally engrossed in the story but still feeling some disgust for it which turned out to be directed at Pamela when I tried to pinpoint my feelings of dislike.

So I would both recommend this book as speak out against it as it was a very mixed up read for me.

[Debby Vendelbosch · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a pretty good book but not at all like i expected after reading The bronse dog and the horses hill. I expected a complicated history novel, so not finding that bugged me the entire book.
Still it was an okay book. The story was well written and a lot of research must have been done to understand all the difficult aspects the main character had to witness. Because of all the interesting characters in the book, you get curious why they become the way they are or what choices they are going to make.
Even though it wasn't what i expected, i still would recommend the book to someone.

[Severien · Rating 1 out of 5]

Alleen maar gelezen omdat ik het vond in de kringloopwinkel voor 0,50 euro... Wat een teleurstelling! Het "geheim" van mr. Ashe is allesbehalve spannend, pervers of interessant... Ik zat heel de tijd te wachten "ja, nu komt het!", maar er gebeurde niets. En Pamela is zowat het saaiste hoofdpersonage ooit! Een mirakel dat ik het halverwege niet heb opgegeven, maar ja, ik zat te wachten op dat spannende geheim van mr. Ashe!

[Heleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mhmm, enjoyable! Pity the protagonist is a bit of a bore though. Pamela's so bloody well-mannered and cautious that it made me cringe at times. But anyway, overall the story-telling is smooth and skillful. Harrison has a way of describing things very accurately and precise which makes it easy for the reader to vividly imagine the different situations anc characters.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book from Sarah Harrison...connects with Swan Music

[Anneleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nederlandse titel: "Het nest van de Nachtegaal"