Martini Henry by Sara Crowe

Martini Henry by Sara Crowe
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Life isn’t an exact science. Things can be troublesome. Like pregnant step-mothers, the ins-and-outs of French existentialism . . . having an unexceptional name.

In 1988, seventeen-year-old Sue Bowl has a diary, big dreams and £4.73. What she wants most of all is to make it as a writer, as well as stop her decadent aunt Coral spending money she doesn't have.

Living in their crumbling ancestral home should provide plenty of inspiration, but between falling in love, hunting for missing heirlooms and internship applications, things keep getting in the way.

So when a young literary professor moves in and catches Sue's eye, life begins to take an unexpected turn . . .


I found Martini Henry a quirky book that reminded me of Adrian Mole, told through journal entries of Sue. Sue wants to be a writer and this is set in 1988, we learn about her aunts house, who she lives with and the lodgers who stay there to help pay the maintenance and upkeep of the home.

Reading this novel you feel you are growing up with Sue and helping her come of age, she discovers some treasures from her own family history. This is a different type of read to my everyday choice, I did enjoy it, however it was written in a very different style to what I have been used to.

I initially found this quite difficult to get into as it was relatively slow. It did progress well and its quite a heartwarming and gentle book.

Due to feeling it was quite slow and difficult to get into it I would give it 3 1/2*

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.