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Cast the First Stone
Fiona Norwood, the new rector’s wife, has caused quite a stir in the close-knit parish community of Aberthwaite. With her glossy blonde hair, fashionable clothes and lavish use of make-up, she is not what the rural Yorkshire community expected, and her ideas to modernise the parish do not go down well with some of the more traditional members of the congregation.
Fiona is at the centre of the gossip and rumour in the community and it is only a matter of time before someone discovers the secret she’s been hiding in her past, something she hasn’t even told her new husband. The revelations and heartache that ensue have unforeseen consequences for more than one member of the parish.
Fiona is at the centre of the gossip and rumour in the community and it is only a matter of time before someone discovers the secret she’s been hiding in her past, something she hasn’t even told her new husband. The revelations and heartache that ensue have unforeseen consequences for more than one member of the parish.
334 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2013
205 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Thornton
54 books22 followersMargaret Thornton was born in Blackpool and has lived there all her life. She was a qualified teacher but retired in order to concentrate on her writing.
Thornton has two children and five grandchildren. Her previous Blackpool sagas are available from Headline and have been highly praised. To date, she has written 24 novels.
Thornton has two children and five grandchildren. Her previous Blackpool sagas are available from Headline and have been highly praised. To date, she has written 24 novels.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 7, 2022
Cast The First Stone by Margaret Thornton is a marvellous historical novel and the first book in the Yorkshire Saga series which promises to be fantastic.
The novel is set in the 1960’s in a small Dales community (it looks like Reeth to me on the cover). The tale also projects backwards to Leeds in the early 1950’s and also covers World War II as we learn about the backgrounds of the two lead characters.
Life was a lottery during WWII especially for members of the RAF. Morals and values were different to peacetime as tomorrow could not be guaranteed so today was seized.
The early 1950’s saw a very different attitude to unmarried mothers. Single girls who found themselves pregnant were seen as bringing shame to their family and were shipped off to church-run homes for the duration of the pregnancy. Following the birth, babies were taken away for adoption. It was a time where love was in short supply as appearances were what mattered.
The novel explores friendships. We see the courage needed to stand up to those who bully the more vulnerable. We witness kindness and compassion that counter balance those who like to gossip and cause strife.
Life in a small Dales town is close knit. We meet new characters who delight us, as well as meeting those who are so entrenched in life that any change is met with much resistance.
All the characters are delightfully drawn, a real eclectic mix such as you would find in any close-knit community.
I have thoroughly enjoyed book one and it is on to book two now for me.
The novel is set in the 1960’s in a small Dales community (it looks like Reeth to me on the cover). The tale also projects backwards to Leeds in the early 1950’s and also covers World War II as we learn about the backgrounds of the two lead characters.
Life was a lottery during WWII especially for members of the RAF. Morals and values were different to peacetime as tomorrow could not be guaranteed so today was seized.
The early 1950’s saw a very different attitude to unmarried mothers. Single girls who found themselves pregnant were seen as bringing shame to their family and were shipped off to church-run homes for the duration of the pregnancy. Following the birth, babies were taken away for adoption. It was a time where love was in short supply as appearances were what mattered.
The novel explores friendships. We see the courage needed to stand up to those who bully the more vulnerable. We witness kindness and compassion that counter balance those who like to gossip and cause strife.
Life in a small Dales town is close knit. We meet new characters who delight us, as well as meeting those who are so entrenched in life that any change is met with much resistance.
All the characters are delightfully drawn, a real eclectic mix such as you would find in any close-knit community.
I have thoroughly enjoyed book one and it is on to book two now for me.
March 2, 2022
1950s Yorkshire and young Fiona Norwood is so pleased to be going to London to the Festival of Britain held on the South Bank of the Thames in May 1951, Fiona is away from home for the first time and with her friends, both girls and boys, they really enjoyed the exhibition and exploring the locality too. Fiona and her best friend Diane paired off with their first boyfriends, unfortunately for Fiona things went too far after a visit to the pub one night and Fiona is left in the family way. Her parents who are very strict church goers are obviously horrified and are busy thinking up ways to cover up her pregnancy.
She is first sent to live with relatives then onto a mother and baby home.
This is the start to a great storyline, one that I was hooked on from the beginning as you find out what happens to Fiona through the coming years. As its the start to a trilogy in the Yorkshire saga, I know which book is to be my next read, the next book in the series "Families and Friendships ".
She is first sent to live with relatives then onto a mother and baby home.
This is the start to a great storyline, one that I was hooked on from the beginning as you find out what happens to Fiona through the coming years. As its the start to a trilogy in the Yorkshire saga, I know which book is to be my next read, the next book in the series "Families and Friendships ".
December 15, 2023
A lovely story set in the 1960, oh how things have and haven’t changed since then!
It’s a heartwarming story showing real life situations, attitudes, prejudices, care, thoughtfulness, love, friendship, loyalty, rivalry..I could go on. It wasn’t what I would call an exciting fast paced story, but that wasn’t what what it was all about, it was a steady paced story that was pulled together in a thoughtful and sensitive manner. I enjoyed it as it was refreshing and a different type of read for me. Lovely.
It’s a heartwarming story showing real life situations, attitudes, prejudices, care, thoughtfulness, love, friendship, loyalty, rivalry..I could go on. It wasn’t what I would call an exciting fast paced story, but that wasn’t what what it was all about, it was a steady paced story that was pulled together in a thoughtful and sensitive manner. I enjoyed it as it was refreshing and a different type of read for me. Lovely.
March 20, 2022
What a brilliant story can’t wait to start the next one in the series of 3 books
Fiona finally after a awful way her Mother and Father treated her after the giving away of her Daughter when she was so young
But her now finding her happiness with Simon a Rector
I can’t wait to read the next 2 books
Fiona finally after a awful way her Mother and Father treated her after the giving away of her Daughter when she was so young
But her now finding her happiness with Simon a Rector
I can’t wait to read the next 2 books
May 7, 2024
Read - September’s stuff your kindle day freebie.
Simon and Fiona, all about their history and futures together. A slow starter, it picked up in the middle but then became a little predictable towards the end. Cute story
Simon and Fiona, all about their history and futures together. A slow starter, it picked up in the middle but then became a little predictable towards the end. Cute story
February 25, 2022
Book 1of 3but a nice story happy ending
January 6, 2023
Such a heartwarming book based in the 1960s, would definitely recommend yo others if they like historic fiction books
March 4, 2024
A girl who fell in love, parents who sent her away, she made a mistake....but she found love later in a man who had lived loved and lost.
May 7, 2024
How wonderful to read something from a Christian perspective that is affirming and non-judgemental. Lovers of Catherine Cookson will enjoy this read. I passed it on to my mum.
July 14, 2024
A decent read
September 17, 2024
A nice, easy going book, though I found it a bit predictable. Having said that I would definitely read more books from this author.
January 7, 2014
The novel opens in 1965 at a “Jacob’s Join” in a church in Aberthwaite, Yorkshire. The party is to welcome home the recently married 44-year-old rector, Reverend Simon Norwood and his 30-year-old wife, Fiona Dalton. While preparing for the pot luck supper, some of the ladies’ comments such as “Off with the old and on with the new” and “Marry in haste and repent at leisure” can be overheard. They are concerned about the recently widowed rector’s decision to remarry a younger woman whom they know little about.
Fiona and Simon had met at the local library, where she is the newly appointed chief librarian; she had moved from Leeds. Following a brief courtship, Simon proposes marriage and Fiona accepts, despite her forebodings at withholding from him a grim secret from her past.
In chapter five, we are taken back to 1934, to Fiona’s birth and her teenage years in Leeds. Her school trip in 1951 with her friends to London is covered at some length. In chapter eighteen, we learn of Simon’s backstory, particularly his days during WWII as an RAF navigator. He harbours secrets of his own and is therefore not concerned about Fiona’s past.
Fiona and Simon continue to lead a blissful life. Fiona gains acceptance into the community. She organises a new women’s group that includes unmarried ladies, despite some minor criticism from the old guard.
Readers will need to be patient while reading this novel, for the major conflict does not develop until much later. It is Thornton’s writing style and the narration of the lives of ordinary people and family issues, such as teenage pregnancy, somewhat like in Catherine Cookson’s novels, which make us care for the characters. One can almost hear the Yorkshire-accented dialogue. The desire to know what happens to the protagonists propels us towards the ending. Recommended.
This review first appeared in the Historical Novel Review Issue 63 (Feb 2013)
Fiona and Simon had met at the local library, where she is the newly appointed chief librarian; she had moved from Leeds. Following a brief courtship, Simon proposes marriage and Fiona accepts, despite her forebodings at withholding from him a grim secret from her past.
In chapter five, we are taken back to 1934, to Fiona’s birth and her teenage years in Leeds. Her school trip in 1951 with her friends to London is covered at some length. In chapter eighteen, we learn of Simon’s backstory, particularly his days during WWII as an RAF navigator. He harbours secrets of his own and is therefore not concerned about Fiona’s past.
Fiona and Simon continue to lead a blissful life. Fiona gains acceptance into the community. She organises a new women’s group that includes unmarried ladies, despite some minor criticism from the old guard.
Readers will need to be patient while reading this novel, for the major conflict does not develop until much later. It is Thornton’s writing style and the narration of the lives of ordinary people and family issues, such as teenage pregnancy, somewhat like in Catherine Cookson’s novels, which make us care for the characters. One can almost hear the Yorkshire-accented dialogue. The desire to know what happens to the protagonists propels us towards the ending. Recommended.
This review first appeared in the Historical Novel Review Issue 63 (Feb 2013)
July 10, 2014
Cast the First Stone is a set in rural England, circa early 1960's. It follows a young woman and some others to a lesser degree, who face age old social issues of reproduction. In mostly narrative, we follow the fall out of this. It makes for an easy but not light read. You feel satisfied by the end, because you are morally with those that don't 'cast stones'. I felt it was sanitized and idealized but not naive. The book touches on many of the abhorrent practices, attitudes and consequences for girls in less fortunate circumstances. The reader was very good.
July 15, 2019
I thought the book was good, but there were a few grammatical and spelling mistakes. The book said it was published in 2012, but it was supposed to be set in early Queen Elizabeth era but I think some of the lingo was more modern? And the book was just too happy for me. There felt like there was no major conflict. But it’s a very feel-good book
December 17, 2012
Yet again another great read from this author. Great book based on a very strong storyline.
October 7, 2015
2.5 stars is a more accurate rating. It was a quick and enjoyable read, but the characters were very black and white. simplistically written, but a nice light read
May 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews