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Book by Anthony, Evelyn
492 pages, Loose Leaf
First published January 1, 1975
About the author
Evelyn Anthony
118 books96 followersEvelyn Anthony was the pen name of Evelyn Bridgett Patricia Stephens Ward-Thomas,
Started her career as a writer of historical fiction, later switched to writing contemporary thrillers, often with an espionage theme.
She met Michael Ward-Thomas on a double date in The Dorchester and both were attracted to each other.] He worked for the Consolidated African Selection Trust. They switched partners and were married a few months later.
They bought Horham Hall in 1968 but found that it was costly and sold it in 1976 and moved to Naas, County Kildare where she had relatives. Increased income from her writing allowed her to buy Horham Hall back in 1982.
In 1994 she became High Sheriff of Essex, the firswt woman in over 700 years to hold this office.
In 1995 her daughter Kitty died of a heroin overdose, leading Evelyn to not write for another seven years.
In 2004 her husband died of a stroke.
She was survived by her children Susan, Anthony, Ewan, Christian and Luke as well as 16 grandchildren.
NB:Some sources give Ms Anthonys year of birth as 1926.
Additional information added from Wikipedia
Started her career as a writer of historical fiction, later switched to writing contemporary thrillers, often with an espionage theme.
She met Michael Ward-Thomas on a double date in The Dorchester and both were attracted to each other.] He worked for the Consolidated African Selection Trust. They switched partners and were married a few months later.
They bought Horham Hall in 1968 but found that it was costly and sold it in 1976 and moved to Naas, County Kildare where she had relatives. Increased income from her writing allowed her to buy Horham Hall back in 1982.
In 1994 she became High Sheriff of Essex, the firswt woman in over 700 years to hold this office.
In 1995 her daughter Kitty died of a heroin overdose, leading Evelyn to not write for another seven years.
In 2004 her husband died of a stroke.
She was survived by her children Susan, Anthony, Ewan, Christian and Luke as well as 16 grandchildren.
NB:Some sources give Ms Anthonys year of birth as 1926.
Additional information added from Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 23, 2020
Edge of the seat excitement!
I have quite a few Evelyn Anthony novels, mainly acquired from Little Free Libraries & the like, but I have never read one of her books - until now!
Anthony turned to writing thrillers because the mid twentieth century historical market was saturated. Don't go into this book expecting the softer edges of a Mary Stewart novel. One of the things I loved about this book was that i wasn't sure what the outcome for anyone was going to be. There were quieter spots, but they were needed for the admittedly minimal character development - and because
The chauvinist remarks I don't think (but don't know) reflected Anthony's own point of view - she was the main money earner in her marriage - & wasn't shy about saying so! In 1994 She became the first female High Sheriff of Essex in 700 years. Quite an honour. I'm not so sure about the generalisations about the Syrian & Iranian character. A modern writer wouldn't use them - but this is a twentieth century book.
I found the ending both satisfying and realistic.
Highly recommended.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
I have quite a few Evelyn Anthony novels, mainly acquired from Little Free Libraries & the like, but I have never read one of her books - until now!
Anthony turned to writing thrillers because the mid twentieth century historical market was saturated. Don't go into this book expecting the softer edges of a Mary Stewart novel. One of the things I loved about this book was that i wasn't sure what the outcome for anyone was going to be. There were quieter spots, but they were needed for the admittedly minimal character development - and because
The chauvinist remarks I don't think (but don't know) reflected Anthony's own point of view - she was the main money earner in her marriage - & wasn't shy about saying so! In 1994 She became the first female High Sheriff of Essex in 700 years. Quite an honour. I'm not so sure about the generalisations about the Syrian & Iranian character. A modern writer wouldn't use them - but this is a twentieth century book.
I found the ending both satisfying and realistic.
Highly recommended.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
May 2, 2021
This was so good I read it in day! I’ve read 7 books by this author THIS year and could go on reading more!!!
September 22, 2020
Evelyn Anthony has written a thriller that involves international intrigue, Middle Eastern spies, and the competition for the control of oil reserves. The setting is mainly in Iran while the Shah is still in power, and although the West is reviled and distrusted, it is still possible to conduct business.
The characters are likeable one moment and disliked another. They are all fallible and corrupt in their own ways, which makes them very interesting and unpredictable.
The Kent State massacre gives up one main character who is already rebellious and asocial, but after his dearest friend is struck down in that historic event, he becomes a terrorist.
Another main character becomes a hostage of terrorists, and provides an interesting psychological look at what sometimes happens to victims when they form an unhealthy relationship with their captor.
Despite some contradictions to what actually happens in hostage situations and over-sentimentality at times, and allowing for the passage of 45 years since it was written, in the end it is a very exciting story.
Evelyn Anthony remains a master of international intrigue.
The characters are likeable one moment and disliked another. They are all fallible and corrupt in their own ways, which makes them very interesting and unpredictable.
The Kent State massacre gives up one main character who is already rebellious and asocial, but after his dearest friend is struck down in that historic event, he becomes a terrorist.
Another main character becomes a hostage of terrorists, and provides an interesting psychological look at what sometimes happens to victims when they form an unhealthy relationship with their captor.
Despite some contradictions to what actually happens in hostage situations and over-sentimentality at times, and allowing for the passage of 45 years since it was written, in the end it is a very exciting story.
Evelyn Anthony remains a master of international intrigue.
October 10, 2022
My mother loved and read all of Evelyn Anthony’s books back in the ‘70s, but only two remained in our possession and ended up on my “To Read” shelf. I read the reviews and decided this one looked more promising than The Poellenberg Inheritance, so I started with it.
I have to say, 70s books are definitely a kind of their own. The melodrama is over the top! This one is about the wife of a British Oil Executive who is trying to make a deal with the Arabs (Iran) for a big oil company. The trouble comes when a Palestinian terrorist organization decides to try to force her husband to stop the deal by kidnapping someone he loves.
I won’t completely spoil it for you, but the book is really about Eileen and her adventures. Her husband doesn’t love her, though one of his co-workers does. However, someone else comes along and completely changes her life.
It’s all a bit much, but I’ll admit it was hard to put down because I wanted to know what would happen to everyone. I didn’t like all the oil negotiation stuff - boring so I skimmed there a little - but the adventure and intrigue were pretty good, plus it had the blessing of being pretty short, so it wasn’t a bad read.
I’ll go ahead and read the Poellenberg Inheritance since it’s sitting here next to me, but I think that’s it for me and Ms. Anthony. I definitely don’t see myself getting any more of these.
I have to say, 70s books are definitely a kind of their own. The melodrama is over the top! This one is about the wife of a British Oil Executive who is trying to make a deal with the Arabs (Iran) for a big oil company. The trouble comes when a Palestinian terrorist organization decides to try to force her husband to stop the deal by kidnapping someone he loves.
I won’t completely spoil it for you, but the book is really about Eileen and her adventures. Her husband doesn’t love her, though one of his co-workers does. However, someone else comes along and completely changes her life.
It’s all a bit much, but I’ll admit it was hard to put down because I wanted to know what would happen to everyone. I didn’t like all the oil negotiation stuff - boring so I skimmed there a little - but the adventure and intrigue were pretty good, plus it had the blessing of being pretty short, so it wasn’t a bad read.
I’ll go ahead and read the Poellenberg Inheritance since it’s sitting here next to me, but I think that’s it for me and Ms. Anthony. I definitely don’t see myself getting any more of these.
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October 18, 2025I actually started this book 2 days ago two days before I first of all the language of Persia is Farsi. Secondly, Persia changed its name in 1939 to Iran and even as late as 1985 people were still saying that they came from Persia instead of Iran. Persia sounds much much nicer sounds more exotic I think anyway this is a great book. It’s more of a mystery or a kind of book and I found it very interesting. The plot to me was difficult, but that’s because I am listening instead of it I think and several times I had to go back also because the case I fell asleep which happens more often when you’re listening to a book as opposed to reading a book anyway I really enjoyed it and I enjoy the author Evelyn Anthony very much. I just finished another book by her about Anne And. I don’t know if this book was historical fiction as Anne And was because I really don’t know that much about the history of Persia or Iran, except for the name change and what language it speaks so if you like the books, if you read my reviews and you like the books that I have liked, I’m sure you will like this one too.
September 26, 2022
A page turner and an interesting read in a thriller set in the time of the Shah. The principal characters are all well drawn from the Iranian authorities...the Minister, the secret police chief and the Shah himself, to the westerners and the terrorists themselves. Ms Anthony certainly had panache and style which transferred itself readily to the page. She does not hesitate either to write graphically on Iranian secret police (SAVAK) torture techniques nor those of a perverted terrorist/kidnapper who like Hitler prefers dogs to humans. Excellent holiday reading.
July 22, 2025
A great read about a woman who becomes the target of terrorists in this mesmerising thriller that sweeps from Iran to England to the South of France. I have read a few of Evelyn Anthony books and this was excellent.
December 14, 2018
Good read.
September 19, 2021
So interesting to be reminded of how different the world was in the early '70's.
September 6, 2024
Read years ago…
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews