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When A Conscience Knocks
This is a story about Alzheimer, an incurable mental disorder. How it affects millions of humans, their lives, families and friends. Jenny, a young English teacher, accepts an appointment at an international school in Teheran, Iran prior to the 1978 revolution, where she meets Juan Miguel, a Spanish diplomat, several years her senior. Both are devout Roman Catholics. They soon fall in love, marry and over the next three decades embark on a life of international adventure and intrigue as Juan Miguel is also a member of the Spanish Secret Service. At the height of Juan Miguel's career at the United Nations he is diagnosed with the early symptoms of the disorder. They return to Spain, initially Madrid and finally Orense, his home city in Galicia, the Northwest of Spain.
250 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 12, 2020
A WISHING SHELF BOOK REVIEW
10th June 2020
TITLE: WHEN A CONSCIENCE KNOCKS
AUTHOR: James G. Skinner
Star Rating: 4
‘A cleverly plotted historical novel populated with interesting, even charismatic, characters. The plot’s focus on Alzheimer is sympathetically written. Highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf
REVIEW
I do enjoy a good historical novel. I like them well-paced, populated by strong, interesting characters, and, of course, it must have a twisting plot, a captivating setting and a killer of an ending. I’m delighted to say this novel by J G Skinner pretty much ticked every box.
The hero of the story, Jenny, is an interesting character, perfectly cast as a young English teacher trying to keep up with her Spanish diplomat husband. She’s pretty bright but she can also be a little indecisive. But that’s not surprising considering the complex (and often dangerous) world she now finds herself in. She’s also vulnerable – important with any hero - open-minded and up for facing a tough challenge.
For the most part, the writing style works well for this genre. It’s not Dickens; you never think, ‘WOW! That character just jumped off the page.’ But that’s okay. The author keeps the focus on the plot, keeps things moving and, most importantly, keeps surprising the reader whenever he can.
So, what didn’t I like? Well, not a lot to be honest. In parts, it did read a little like a history book. This author enjoys ‘facts’ and seems determined to educate the reader on the political happenings of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. I think the short, abrupt style of writing didn’t help; indeed, I often felt like I was reading the script for the News at Ten. But, in a way, that was okay. It was different in style; and ‘different’ is not always a bad thing. However, I did spot a large number of grammatical errors which is not okay. They need to be fixed.
I most also discuss Alzheimer’s Disease, which is a key theme in the second half of this story. You see, Juan Miguel, Jenny’s husband, is diagnosed with the disorder and they return to Spain. The author works hard to help the reader understand not only the nature of the disorder, but also how it impacts the sufferer and others.
All in all, this is a gripping novel which, I think, will be of interest to anybody interested in recent political history. Also, the Alzheimer theme, although written in a slightly too dry, detached sort of way, will be of interest to many readers. The short, concise writing style many not be for everybody, but I thought it refreshing, and I would happily read another of this author’s books.
Enjoy!
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
10th June 2020
TITLE: WHEN A CONSCIENCE KNOCKS
AUTHOR: James G. Skinner
Star Rating: 4
‘A cleverly plotted historical novel populated with interesting, even charismatic, characters. The plot’s focus on Alzheimer is sympathetically written. Highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf
REVIEW
I do enjoy a good historical novel. I like them well-paced, populated by strong, interesting characters, and, of course, it must have a twisting plot, a captivating setting and a killer of an ending. I’m delighted to say this novel by J G Skinner pretty much ticked every box.
The hero of the story, Jenny, is an interesting character, perfectly cast as a young English teacher trying to keep up with her Spanish diplomat husband. She’s pretty bright but she can also be a little indecisive. But that’s not surprising considering the complex (and often dangerous) world she now finds herself in. She’s also vulnerable – important with any hero - open-minded and up for facing a tough challenge.
For the most part, the writing style works well for this genre. It’s not Dickens; you never think, ‘WOW! That character just jumped off the page.’ But that’s okay. The author keeps the focus on the plot, keeps things moving and, most importantly, keeps surprising the reader whenever he can.
So, what didn’t I like? Well, not a lot to be honest. In parts, it did read a little like a history book. This author enjoys ‘facts’ and seems determined to educate the reader on the political happenings of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. I think the short, abrupt style of writing didn’t help; indeed, I often felt like I was reading the script for the News at Ten. But, in a way, that was okay. It was different in style; and ‘different’ is not always a bad thing. However, I did spot a large number of grammatical errors which is not okay. They need to be fixed.
I most also discuss Alzheimer’s Disease, which is a key theme in the second half of this story. You see, Juan Miguel, Jenny’s husband, is diagnosed with the disorder and they return to Spain. The author works hard to help the reader understand not only the nature of the disorder, but also how it impacts the sufferer and others.
All in all, this is a gripping novel which, I think, will be of interest to anybody interested in recent political history. Also, the Alzheimer theme, although written in a slightly too dry, detached sort of way, will be of interest to many readers. The short, concise writing style many not be for everybody, but I thought it refreshing, and I would happily read another of this author’s books.
Enjoy!
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
August 3, 2020
“When a Conscience Knocks,” by James G. Skinner, is a grand love story wrapped in a novel of political intrigue. At its heart, the love story involves English teacher Jenny Robertson and Second Secretary to the Spanish Embassy, Juan Miguel Ochoa. Their first meeting over coffee ignites a romance and dedication of thirty years.
Jenny is a unique sort, and so is Juan Miguel, and there is a classic feel to their early romance, with long drives, day trips, picnics, sightseeing, book lending, phone calls, wine, roses, and candles. During those thirty years, they travel together, become closer, co-mingle in political affairs, and face life's ups and downs. And then a bombshell of a different sort is dropped when Juan receives a diagnosis of early Alzheimer's Disease. This scenario shows how such a diagnosis affects a relationship, careers, and hopes and dreams. The machinery of international dealings is no match for a disease that will eventually rob you of your life's work, your personality, and even your precious memories. The major plot twist adds to the pain and drama of the novel.
This novel would be good for the political/international aspects alone (historical events in the Middle East, Madrid, and other locations), but the love story is what is most riveting to me. A pivotal moment in the couple's relationship is also a spoiler if I mention it here, so let's just say its rawness and honesty jump off the page as you read.
This book feels like a true story, and in a way it IS true for many couples living, and dying, with an Alzheimer's diagnosis. Skinner has a beautiful way with words. His descriptions are poignant in their simplicity, and rich in detail, reminding me of Cormac McCarthy's style. The broader plot is interesting and introduces you to a world of politics and culture that feel realistic and span decades.
But it's the details that make Skinner a great writer. For example, the way he describes little things, like how a passerby is dressed, or the fleeting thoughts of a confused person. You ache for the two main characters, Jenny, and Juan Miguel, but of course in different ways. You want things to return to the way they were before mental decline, but they can't. A writer who causes you to feel for the characters as real people and think about them long after the book is over, has done his job. The novel is told in first-person, by Jenny, which makes the events feel more personal and accessible.
There is nothing cliché about this novel. No wasted words. Everything feels crisp and clean, like a vintage film from the early days. “When a Conscience Knocks,” by James G. Skinner, will break your heart, but will confirm it too.
Jenny is a unique sort, and so is Juan Miguel, and there is a classic feel to their early romance, with long drives, day trips, picnics, sightseeing, book lending, phone calls, wine, roses, and candles. During those thirty years, they travel together, become closer, co-mingle in political affairs, and face life's ups and downs. And then a bombshell of a different sort is dropped when Juan receives a diagnosis of early Alzheimer's Disease. This scenario shows how such a diagnosis affects a relationship, careers, and hopes and dreams. The machinery of international dealings is no match for a disease that will eventually rob you of your life's work, your personality, and even your precious memories. The major plot twist adds to the pain and drama of the novel.
This novel would be good for the political/international aspects alone (historical events in the Middle East, Madrid, and other locations), but the love story is what is most riveting to me. A pivotal moment in the couple's relationship is also a spoiler if I mention it here, so let's just say its rawness and honesty jump off the page as you read.
This book feels like a true story, and in a way it IS true for many couples living, and dying, with an Alzheimer's diagnosis. Skinner has a beautiful way with words. His descriptions are poignant in their simplicity, and rich in detail, reminding me of Cormac McCarthy's style. The broader plot is interesting and introduces you to a world of politics and culture that feel realistic and span decades.
But it's the details that make Skinner a great writer. For example, the way he describes little things, like how a passerby is dressed, or the fleeting thoughts of a confused person. You ache for the two main characters, Jenny, and Juan Miguel, but of course in different ways. You want things to return to the way they were before mental decline, but they can't. A writer who causes you to feel for the characters as real people and think about them long after the book is over, has done his job. The novel is told in first-person, by Jenny, which makes the events feel more personal and accessible.
There is nothing cliché about this novel. No wasted words. Everything feels crisp and clean, like a vintage film from the early days. “When a Conscience Knocks,” by James G. Skinner, will break your heart, but will confirm it too.
July 24, 2020
Would you like to read a love story that is entwined with world events?
If so, then read this enlightening book entitled, “When a Conscience Knocks”, by James G. Skinner.
Jennifer Robertson was born in Richmond, England on June 4, 1954. She graduated from Cambridge University and then moved to Tehran, Iran to teach at the International School. She continued her Catholic faith, but soon learned about the customs of the Iranian people. At an after-mass coffee session at St. Joseph church, she met Sr. Don Juan Miguel Ochoa, a Galacian, and the Second Secretary to the Spanish Embassy. Their polite conversation included the current conflict between the Israeli and Palestinian governments where hostages from a hijacked Air France Airbus 300 airplane were being held in Entebbe, Uganda. Their close relationship continued to grow and they were married soon thereafter. They traveled to Athens, Greece for their honeymoon including the island of Astypalea. Margaret Thatcher, the Prime Minister of England, visited and Jenny attended her conference for British citizens living in Iran. Margaret Thatcher spoke about Britain being a “bridge between Europe and the Middle East” and how the Shah of Iran had turned a poor country into a “leader of military and industrial power”. Margaret Thatcher also met with the Shah of Iran. In 1978, Ruhollah Khomeini, a Muslim leader, began “a movement to overthrow the present monarchy”. Eventually, the Shah and his wife, Farah Diba, fled the country for Egypt where the Shah sought medical treatment for cancer. He died on July 27, 1980. After tensions grew between the new Iranian government and the U.S. and changes in Iran affected businesses and the Iranian people, Juan Miguel and Jenny Ochoa moved to Argentina where relations were good with the Spanish government. Both flew to Madrid, Spain and visited Juan’s sister, Mari Carmen at the convent in Orense. The Village of Allariz was next to visit Juan’s aunt, Consuelo. They soon returned home to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The story of Juan and Jenny’s lives and the political events of world countries continue to unfold as you read this interesting book.
“This book is dedicated to the worldwide Alzheimer Association.”
Teens and adults.
If so, then read this enlightening book entitled, “When a Conscience Knocks”, by James G. Skinner.
Jennifer Robertson was born in Richmond, England on June 4, 1954. She graduated from Cambridge University and then moved to Tehran, Iran to teach at the International School. She continued her Catholic faith, but soon learned about the customs of the Iranian people. At an after-mass coffee session at St. Joseph church, she met Sr. Don Juan Miguel Ochoa, a Galacian, and the Second Secretary to the Spanish Embassy. Their polite conversation included the current conflict between the Israeli and Palestinian governments where hostages from a hijacked Air France Airbus 300 airplane were being held in Entebbe, Uganda. Their close relationship continued to grow and they were married soon thereafter. They traveled to Athens, Greece for their honeymoon including the island of Astypalea. Margaret Thatcher, the Prime Minister of England, visited and Jenny attended her conference for British citizens living in Iran. Margaret Thatcher spoke about Britain being a “bridge between Europe and the Middle East” and how the Shah of Iran had turned a poor country into a “leader of military and industrial power”. Margaret Thatcher also met with the Shah of Iran. In 1978, Ruhollah Khomeini, a Muslim leader, began “a movement to overthrow the present monarchy”. Eventually, the Shah and his wife, Farah Diba, fled the country for Egypt where the Shah sought medical treatment for cancer. He died on July 27, 1980. After tensions grew between the new Iranian government and the U.S. and changes in Iran affected businesses and the Iranian people, Juan Miguel and Jenny Ochoa moved to Argentina where relations were good with the Spanish government. Both flew to Madrid, Spain and visited Juan’s sister, Mari Carmen at the convent in Orense. The Village of Allariz was next to visit Juan’s aunt, Consuelo. They soon returned home to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The story of Juan and Jenny’s lives and the political events of world countries continue to unfold as you read this interesting book.
“This book is dedicated to the worldwide Alzheimer Association.”
Teens and adults.
February 1, 2026
When a Conscience Knocks by James G. Skinner is a quietly powerful literary drama that explores love, faith, and moral responsibility through the slow devastation of Alzheimer’s disease. Rather than isolating the illness as a purely medical tragedy, the novel situates it within a richly lived international life shaped by diplomacy, secrecy, and devotion.
Jenny, an English teacher, and Juan Miguel, a Spanish diplomat and covert intelligence operative, meet in pre-revolutionary Iran and build a marriage grounded in shared faith and purpose. Their decades together unfold across politically charged environments and professional intrigue, lending the story a global scope that contrasts sharply with the intimate erosion caused by Juan Miguel’s diagnosis. This contrast is one of the novel’s greatest strengths: a man once entrusted with secrets of state gradually loses access to his own memories.
The emotional core of the novel rests with Jenny. Her role as caregiver, wife, and moral witness is rendered with restraint and empathy. The story resists melodrama, instead allowing grief, exhaustion, and love to surface organically. Faith functions not as a solution but as a framework through which the characters attempt to make meaning of irreversible loss.
The return to Spain, and ultimately to Galicia, feels less like an ending than a reckoning. Identity, conscience, and memory converge in a narrative that asks difficult questions about dignity, duty, and what remains when ambition and intellect fall away. When a Conscience Knocks is a compassionate, thoughtful novel that will resonate deeply with readers interested in literary fiction that confronts illness, marriage, and moral endurance with honesty and grace.
Jenny, an English teacher, and Juan Miguel, a Spanish diplomat and covert intelligence operative, meet in pre-revolutionary Iran and build a marriage grounded in shared faith and purpose. Their decades together unfold across politically charged environments and professional intrigue, lending the story a global scope that contrasts sharply with the intimate erosion caused by Juan Miguel’s diagnosis. This contrast is one of the novel’s greatest strengths: a man once entrusted with secrets of state gradually loses access to his own memories.
The emotional core of the novel rests with Jenny. Her role as caregiver, wife, and moral witness is rendered with restraint and empathy. The story resists melodrama, instead allowing grief, exhaustion, and love to surface organically. Faith functions not as a solution but as a framework through which the characters attempt to make meaning of irreversible loss.
The return to Spain, and ultimately to Galicia, feels less like an ending than a reckoning. Identity, conscience, and memory converge in a narrative that asks difficult questions about dignity, duty, and what remains when ambition and intellect fall away. When a Conscience Knocks is a compassionate, thoughtful novel that will resonate deeply with readers interested in literary fiction that confronts illness, marriage, and moral endurance with honesty and grace.
February 4, 2026
When a Conscience Knocks is a quietly affecting novel that traces the arc of a life shaped by love, faith, and responsibility and the devastating intrusion of Alzheimer’s disease.
What begins as a cross cultural love story set against prer evolutionary Iran expands into a sweeping narrative of marriage, diplomacy, and moral complexity. Jenny and Juan Miguel’s shared faith provides an emotional throughline, grounding their relationship as they move through decades of international postings, secrecy, and service. Skinner’s portrayal of their bond feels rooted in commitment rather than idealization, which makes the later unraveling all the more poignant.
The novel’s treatment of Alzheimer’s is especially compassionate. Rather than focusing solely on loss, it explores how identity, dignity, and conscience persist even as memory falters. The return to Spain both geographical and emotional becomes a reckoning not only with illness, but with the accumulated weight of a life lived in the shadows of global power and moral compromise.
This is a reflective, humane work for readers drawn to literary fiction that examines devotion, aging, and the quiet heroism of caregiving when love is tested by time and forgetting.
What begins as a cross cultural love story set against prer evolutionary Iran expands into a sweeping narrative of marriage, diplomacy, and moral complexity. Jenny and Juan Miguel’s shared faith provides an emotional throughline, grounding their relationship as they move through decades of international postings, secrecy, and service. Skinner’s portrayal of their bond feels rooted in commitment rather than idealization, which makes the later unraveling all the more poignant.
The novel’s treatment of Alzheimer’s is especially compassionate. Rather than focusing solely on loss, it explores how identity, dignity, and conscience persist even as memory falters. The return to Spain both geographical and emotional becomes a reckoning not only with illness, but with the accumulated weight of a life lived in the shadows of global power and moral compromise.
This is a reflective, humane work for readers drawn to literary fiction that examines devotion, aging, and the quiet heroism of caregiving when love is tested by time and forgetting.
January 30, 2026
When A Conscience Knocks is a moving and multidimensional story that blends romance, international intrigue, and the human impact of Alzheimer’s disease. James G. Skinner traces the lives of Jenny, a young English teacher, and Juan Miguel, a Spanish diplomat and secret service agent, across decades and continents. The narrative captures the sweep of their personal and professional journeys while exploring the profound effects of illness on identity, relationships, and family.
What makes this book compelling is its careful balance of historical context, adventure, and emotional depth. Skinner depicts the couple’s love, devotion, and shared faith with sensitivity, showing how their bond sustains them through challenges, including the onset of Alzheimer’s in Juan Miguel. The book is both a reflection on memory, loss, and resilience, and an intimate chronicle of two lives intertwined with historical events and cultural experience.
For readers interested in historical fiction, memoir-style storytelling, or narratives exploring illness, caregiving, and enduring love, When A Conscience Knocks provides both emotional resonance and narrative intrigue.
What makes this book compelling is its careful balance of historical context, adventure, and emotional depth. Skinner depicts the couple’s love, devotion, and shared faith with sensitivity, showing how their bond sustains them through challenges, including the onset of Alzheimer’s in Juan Miguel. The book is both a reflection on memory, loss, and resilience, and an intimate chronicle of two lives intertwined with historical events and cultural experience.
For readers interested in historical fiction, memoir-style storytelling, or narratives exploring illness, caregiving, and enduring love, When A Conscience Knocks provides both emotional resonance and narrative intrigue.
October 9, 2020
CHANTICLEER – NOT FOR RELEASE – AWAITING AUTHOR/PUBLISHER COMMENTS Review (438 words) of:
When a Conscience Knocks
Author: James G. Skinner
Website:
Publisher: Cyberwit.net (May 9, 2020)
ISBN: 9789389690900
ASIN: B088ZT1MJH
Rating: 4/5 stars
One woman’s life follows a roller-coaster ride of love, political turmoil, and tragedy in James G. Skinner’s novel When a Conscience Knocks.
Jenny Robinson enters a confessional and falls apart. Sensing her distress, the Catholic priest encourages her to divulge her story, which she does. In 1976, at the age of twenty-two, Jenny left her hometown of Richmond, England, and took a teaching job in Iran.
It’s during this time where she meets Juan Miguel Ochoa, a Gallaecian. A diplomat at the Spanish Embassy, Juan is near twenty years her senior. Romance ensues, and within less than two years, Jenny and Juan marry.
Jenny has no idea what she’s getting into as she blindly trusts Juan’s lead throughout his diplomatic career. During their marriage, Juan’s work takes them to numerous trips through Europe, Central and South America, and the USA amid political tensions, wars, and terrorism. But as they approach their twenty-fifth anniversary, life throws a disturbing curveball. Juan’s erratic behavior heralds the early onset of Alzheimer’s. While Jenny’s life abruptly fills with uncertainty, the last thing she expects is to be involved in an affair.
New author James G. Skinner opens with a conflicting scene as his principal character, Jenny Robinson Ochoa, confesses to committing adultery. At the same time, her husband slowly succumbs to Alzheimer’s disease in a nursing care facility. What follows in the twenty-plus chapters is the account she discloses to a Catholic priest.
Jenny’s feelings and thoughts about her husband’s involvement with the chaotic global events surrounding them dominate Skinner’s first-person British narrative. Her continual ponderings, covered within a chronological list of backstories, capture her personality’s development amid the ebb and flow of their marriage, travels, and political upheavals. Conversations between Jenny and Juan focus on explanations of world history and Juan’s diplomatic involvement to a politically uninterested wife. Although the many dialogue scenes that present facts tend to be a bit dry, Skinner does a decent job weaving in historical events.
As stated in the Dedication, the purpose of When a Conscience Knocks is to provide readers with an example of how Alzheimer’s affects intimate relationships. No one would dispute that Alzheimer’s disease is devastating to both victims and loved ones, and Skinner’s fictional character is not exempt. Rather than placing the debilitating disease front and center, Skinner pivots the attention upon the partner. Indeed, this is a coming-of-age tale—one’s woman’s struggle to find her identity, her voice amid conflict and relational codependency.
When a Conscience Knocks takes an alternate route, describing the pain and torment those on the sidelines experience when their partners succumb to Alzheimer’s disease’s devastation.
***
“An intimate look at one woman’s life as she fights for her identity after her husband is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.” – Chanticleer Reviews
When a Conscience Knocks
Author: James G. Skinner
Website:
Publisher: Cyberwit.net (May 9, 2020)
ISBN: 9789389690900
ASIN: B088ZT1MJH
Rating: 4/5 stars
One woman’s life follows a roller-coaster ride of love, political turmoil, and tragedy in James G. Skinner’s novel When a Conscience Knocks.
Jenny Robinson enters a confessional and falls apart. Sensing her distress, the Catholic priest encourages her to divulge her story, which she does. In 1976, at the age of twenty-two, Jenny left her hometown of Richmond, England, and took a teaching job in Iran.
It’s during this time where she meets Juan Miguel Ochoa, a Gallaecian. A diplomat at the Spanish Embassy, Juan is near twenty years her senior. Romance ensues, and within less than two years, Jenny and Juan marry.
Jenny has no idea what she’s getting into as she blindly trusts Juan’s lead throughout his diplomatic career. During their marriage, Juan’s work takes them to numerous trips through Europe, Central and South America, and the USA amid political tensions, wars, and terrorism. But as they approach their twenty-fifth anniversary, life throws a disturbing curveball. Juan’s erratic behavior heralds the early onset of Alzheimer’s. While Jenny’s life abruptly fills with uncertainty, the last thing she expects is to be involved in an affair.
New author James G. Skinner opens with a conflicting scene as his principal character, Jenny Robinson Ochoa, confesses to committing adultery. At the same time, her husband slowly succumbs to Alzheimer’s disease in a nursing care facility. What follows in the twenty-plus chapters is the account she discloses to a Catholic priest.
Jenny’s feelings and thoughts about her husband’s involvement with the chaotic global events surrounding them dominate Skinner’s first-person British narrative. Her continual ponderings, covered within a chronological list of backstories, capture her personality’s development amid the ebb and flow of their marriage, travels, and political upheavals. Conversations between Jenny and Juan focus on explanations of world history and Juan’s diplomatic involvement to a politically uninterested wife. Although the many dialogue scenes that present facts tend to be a bit dry, Skinner does a decent job weaving in historical events.
As stated in the Dedication, the purpose of When a Conscience Knocks is to provide readers with an example of how Alzheimer’s affects intimate relationships. No one would dispute that Alzheimer’s disease is devastating to both victims and loved ones, and Skinner’s fictional character is not exempt. Rather than placing the debilitating disease front and center, Skinner pivots the attention upon the partner. Indeed, this is a coming-of-age tale—one’s woman’s struggle to find her identity, her voice amid conflict and relational codependency.
When a Conscience Knocks takes an alternate route, describing the pain and torment those on the sidelines experience when their partners succumb to Alzheimer’s disease’s devastation.
***
“An intimate look at one woman’s life as she fights for her identity after her husband is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.” – Chanticleer Reviews
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