A review of "Thicker Than Water" by Bethan Darwin

August 17, 2016

There was a reason that I decided to review this book. As soon as I knew the story involved Wales and Canada, I was sold! Having come from a coal mining heritage in the Welsh valleys and lived in Canada for nineteen years, this book was right up my street!

One of the first things that struck me in the beginning chapters was the writer's expression of details. I always had a clear picture of the scenes including the nappy changing that many can relate to!

Secondly, there is a professionalism that is evident in the research and the writing.

This book tells the tales of Gareth Maddox, a successful lawyer who leaves London with his wife and family and returns to Wales where his heart lies; and of his great- grandfather, Idris, who emigrates to Canada after the miners strike in the 1920's.

The parallel stories of Gareth and his family and that of his great grandfather and his twin brother are enthralling and really draw the reader in. The history of the Welsh vales and the plight of the miners is frequently touched on and really informative.

Wales and Canada become connected by the two story lines. Gareth acquires a client from Toronto who is looking to bring business into the Rhondda Valley. Gareth who still fancies his wife suddenly finds himself experiencing feelings for another woman that are totally alien to his personality. The two countries are also connected when Gareth's great uncle emigrates to Canada after the failure of the the unions to improve conditions for the Welsh miners and Great Uncle Idris's need to get away from the woman he loves after she marries his twin brother. Two relationships follow for Idris during his Canadian experience. For both men there is a lot of soul searching involved. For Gareth, he wants to find out more about his lost Canadian family.

There are so many characters in this book including Gareth's wonderfully different children who themselves seem to have their own storyline. It is impossible to try and explain this book in any logical order as it is a bit of a Tardis in book form. How Bethan Darwin manages to bring so much into relatively few pages without confusing the reader is simply mind boggling.

As anyone who has read my reviews knows, I never give too much information about what happens as for me, that takes away the reason to read it! However, if you want a book that will teach you a bit of history, transport you to a foreign land, make you laugh, shock you a little, provide a little spice and completely enthrall, I really suggest you get this one!

Thanks so much Bethan for writing this and thank you to Brook Cottage Books for giving me the opportunity to read it!