After Michael

by Betty O'Rourke

Fiona's eyes turned to the other people in this small, select group, then paused. Who was that young woman standing behind and slightly to Colin's right? She knew everyone else gathered here; close friends and neighbours of Michael and herself, but she was quite sure she'd never seen this young woman before. When Fiona Latimer learns that her husband Michael has died of a sudden heart attack alone in his London flat, she is shocked but not devastated. She and Michael had led increasingly separate lives in their last few years. At the funeral, two people arrive unexpectedly, each of whom will have a great deal of influence on future events. There is Anthea, a girl who knows more about Michael than she will admit, and Simon, a man from Fiona's past whom she now realises she should have married instead. Gradually, the secrets of Michael's past are uncovered, and when the final, shocking betrayals are at last revealed Fiona discovers her life with him was not at all what it had seemed.

Genres: Fiction, Adult Fiction

300 pages, Paperback

First published July 8, 2005

About the author

Elizabeth Margaret Smith was born on 5 December 1930 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK. She started to work in a library at 20, and met her future husband at Library School, and worked as a librarian. During her first two years of marriage they lived in USA. They had four children. She was vice-president of the Romantic Novelists' Association and she was the acting Membership Secretary of the RNA. She lived in her native Reading until her death in 2006.

Reviews

[Sorcha · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Fiona’s eyes turned to the other people in this small, select group, then paused. Who was that young woman standing behind and slightly to Colin’s right? She knew everyone else gathered here; close friends and neighbours of Michael and herself, but she was quite sure she’d never seen this young woman before."

When Fiona Latimer learns that her husband Michael has died of a sudden heart attack alone in his London flat, she is shocked but not devastated. She and Michael had led increasingly separate lives in their last few years. At the funeral, two people arrive unexpectedly, each of whom will have a great deal of influence on future events. There is Anthea, a girl who knows more about Michael than she will admit, and Simon, a man from Fiona’s past whom she now realises she should have married instead. Gradually, the secrets of Michael’s past are uncovered, and when the final, shocking betrayals are at last revealed Fiona discovers her life with him was not at all what it had seemed.

Enjoyable easy read.There were a couple of scenes that I felt could have been handled better - for instance, when Eleanor tells Fiona about her brother, a whole reminiscence scene is played by both women, giving a whole load of information that was unnecessary...at that point. I felt a lot of that information could have been dripped fed or was unnecessary. These were supposed to be best friends, and they had never talked about not visiting families before?!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

02/01/08
TITLE/AUTHOR: AFTER MICHAEL by Betty O'Rourke
RATING: 4.5/B+
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF PGS: Women's Fiction/2005/300 pgs
SERIES/STAND ALONE: Stand Alone
TIME/PLACE: Present/UK
CHARACTERS: Fiona/widow
FIRST LINES: 'Man that is born of woman hath but a short time to live -- he cometh up & is cut down like a flower -- in the midst of life we are in death.' Fional heard the vicar's voice drone on tonelessly at the head of the grave, wi/o the words registering in her brain.

COMMENTS: rec 01/08 via bookcrossing (ring/ray). This transita book had more of a focus on the mystery element than other books I've read. I was intrigued from the start. Fiona's husband dies suddenly in his London apt. When her attorney visits and tells her there is no money left, he had cashed out his pension & mortgaged their home w/o her knowledge -- there are just too many questions for she & her son to let go w/o further detection. Altho' I knew Michael had a secret side to his life, wasn't sure of all the details until the end. I did like the friendship betwen Colin & Simon.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Couldn't put down towards the end

[Kate Millin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona is suddenly widowed, but the death of her husband is very suspicious, although I did get the twist before the end.