Small Bomb At Dimperley

by Lissa Evans

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

Published August 14, 2025

About the author

After a brief career in medicine, and an even briefer one in stand-up, Lissa Evans became a comedy producer, first in radio and then in television. Her first novel, Spencer's List, was published in 2002, and since then she has written three more books for adults (two of them longlisted for the Orange/Baileys Prize) and two for children (the first of them shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal). Her two most recent books for adults were set in London during the Second World War; one of them, 'Their Finest Hour and a Half' has now been made into a film entitled 'Their Finest', starring Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin and Bill Nighy

Reviews

[Barb]

I'm surprised that Lissa Evans' newest book doesn't seem to have been released in North America yet. So I first tried ordering it as an ebook from Amazon UK but that wasn't permitted. Then I bit the bullet and ordered it in print. Amazon said it would take between 1 -2 months to arrive (presumably from the UK through the unreliable Canadian postal service). It did arrive just under the 2 month deadline. Well worth the hassle. This Downton like story set just after WWII, is as charming, funny and romantic as Evans always is. I hope it will eventually make its way to North American libraries and bookstores.

[Heather Browning · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really entertaining - low-key satire, the story of a British aristocratic family trying to find their way in the cultural change emerging post-WW2, with lots of endearingly humourous characters, a predictable but sweetly satisfying love story, and one of the most believable representations of the strangeness of a 3-year-old child that I think I've ever read.

[Apoorva · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real cutie !!

[Bill Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gentle tale of life on a country estate after WW1 when the family and retainers have to pick up the pieces in a new world order. Set in Buckinghamshire not far from Buckingham town it is beautifully descriptive of both the setting and the people of the time. Well worth reading.

[Balthazaar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a little cracker. Lovely gentle, charming and really funny in spots, it's a great read to get you out of slump, to curl up with on a rainy day, or any day. Really enjoyed my time spent with these characters. Will definitely read more of this authors. (Got the audio book from my library. Save our libraries for little joys like this!)

[Alison Pilkington · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very satisfying read with good characters, humour and an everything working together.

[Kirsty Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

A low stakes but immensely satisfying read that manages to be both satirical and comforting.

[Niki · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was bored to tears, except for the bit where there was a pointless dog death (I usually refuse to continue to read books with pointless dog deaths, but had to continue because it was for book club)

[Alice Arrandale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny, great characters and I couldn't put it down.

[Jennifer Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

V light - easy read. Wouldn’t read another of hers

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ADORE Lissa Evans' books – they are sheer bliss. As I near the end I try to eke out the pages as long as I can – I want them to go on forever.