The Doll's House

by Evelyn Anthony

First printing, dust jacket has some creasing to the top edge, page edges tanned. Orders received by 3pm Sent from the UK that weekday.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Espionage

279 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Evelyn 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

Reviews

[Alex Lobo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish the story went on a bit longer. Enjoyed this one a lot!

[Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good spy thriller. Very British.

[Robert Kerry Lilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

good spy story

A little love story wrapped around a spy thriller. The prose was easy and the story was realistic. I recommend it easily.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intelligent, if somewhat implausible spy thriller, which incorporates all the tropes of the genre – assassination, terrorism, the KGB, an Arab Prince, secret agents –but it’s all handled quite cleverly and is a good fun read. Romance and espionage with a bit of torture thrown in. Entertaining, but perhaps not one to analyse too deeply.

[Apurva · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first real read of a spy thriller and if I care to say, it was quite the twist in the end! A hint of realism blending between the fraying edges of action and suspense.

[K. Counihan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Very Good Story

A good spy story. The cold war, complete with corrupt diplomats, double agents , and a diplomat who is now in her first secret agent job with no training.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable quick read but ending needed to be developed more.

[Gabriela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written, lots of suspense, just a great spy thriller. Ms Anthony’s writing is timeless and completely captivating.

[Bibiana Loza · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me it was a very slow start and hard to get into. Other than that a good spy story with a twist at the end.

[Emily Schnabl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled onto Evelyn Anthony by accident, British spy novels are some of my favorites. Definitely felt an echo of LeCarre in the book. I look forward to reading more of hers.

[KK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, quick read. The only con to this novel is that there is adult content that I could have done without.

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, it was a fast read because it was interesting. Takes place in the early 1990’s. A woman in the Foreign Office training to be a spy and her first assignment.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

... it was a kind of attempt at being the female john leCarre meets ... the three main characters seem to be searching for meaning/purpose in their lives and growth beyond pain, and tragedy and DISALLUSIONMENT in life which usually is a common thread in all spy novels. The "doll house" title is somewhat a mystery, but it would seem to be an allusion to Ibsen's play. A Doll's House, also is a search for meaning in a women's life. With the use of it's literary and physical motif "doll house" in the story as a "hiding place" or shelter has parallels to other literature. It is also a message about the true evil that really exists in this world. Torture murder etc. how people have become playthings or puppets to others.

My only question concerning the plot line itself was why the "insider " did not warn their "spys" about the homosexual nature of the arab prince. this set into motion *(like a true film noir)* a sequence of unreoverable events in the "mission"

[Maria Longley · Rating 2 out of 5]

What do spies do when they get retired? Start working in a hotel is one answer. This particular hotel is named after a giant historical doll's house upstairs and there's a lot going on behind the scenes. (One of the characters in the hotel is writing a biography of Václav Havel...) There is much suspension of disbelief required but the story flowed along ok. How come English spies are always upper class and the rest of the world's aren't?

[Donette · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a fun read about post Cold War spys that get together to engage in espionage. I only gave it two stars because the language was too strong and the ending was lame and in my opinion a cop out on the part of the author. Entertaining non the less.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

one of Davina Graham suspenseful espionage series. Don't remember much but that I liked it and was going to look for more by this author.

[Yeshudas · Rating 4 out of 5]

my first....

[David Vanness]

My copy is an 'UNabridged' Chivers Auto Books set of 8 cassettes.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the Cold War ends six professional spies join forces to become terrorists for hire. Rosa Bennet, a recently divorced diplomat, gains access to their headquarters setting the stage for intrigue.

[Jennifer Morefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a great spy novel. Enjoyed it!

[Diane Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Doll's House, Evelyn Anthony, RDC-M #2 1993, @ 1992, 1/94. Six professional spies combine forces as terrorists for hire, their headquaters a picturesque hotel. Okay.

[Claudia Segal]

I cannot rate this book as I stopped about 5 chapters into it. It isn't my type of book.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Anthony novels!!!

[Sibil Clark-beasley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read with old spies and new and a tale of love woven in the middle