Tag: HF Reading Challenge

Book Review – Miss Veal and Miss Ham by Vikki Heywood @muswellpress

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About the Book

Public companions, private lovers….

It is 1951 and behind the counter of a modest post office in a leafy Buckinghamshire village Miss Dora Ham and Miss Beatrix Veal maintain their careful facade as respected local spinsters. But true story is one of passion: suffragist activists who fell in love in the 1900s, danced in London’s secret gay clubs between the wars, and comforted one another during the Blitz.  Together they have built a life of quiet dignity and service in rural England.

But now the harsh realities of the post-war world are encroaching, as over the course of one pivotal day their carefully constructed world begins to fracture, forcing Miss Veal and Miss Ham to face heart-breaking decisions.

Format: Paperback (134 pages) Publisher: Muswell Press
Publication date: 3rd July 2025 Genre: Historical Fiction

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My Review

I heard Vikki Heywood talk about her book at Winchester Books Festival back in April and liked the sound of it so much I bought a copy. It turned out to be a good decision as Miss Veal and Miss Ham manages to be a book that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, quite a balancing act to achieve.

The story takes place over the course of a single day, unfolding from Beatrix’s point of view for reasons that will become apparent later in the book.

It’s a very significant day because tomorrow the bailiffs arrive. The post office that Beatrix ran for over thirty years has been closed as part of that dread word ‘rationalisation’ and because it was only ever a temporary contract, awarded because the male workforce were away at war, she is entitled to no pension, no redundancy pay. You could call it the first Great Post Office Scandal.

The continuation of sugar rationing has reduced takings from the sweet shop, Dora’s pride and joy, and their spiralling debts mean Beatrix and Dora must leave their home forever. After decades together, they face the unimaginable prospect of being parted; Dora, ten years Beatrix’s senior and growing increasingly frail, to a care home, and Beatrix to her sister Alice’s home, if she’ll have her that is.

There must be another way, and they believe they have found it. They have a carefully worked out plan, they just need to summon up the courage to follow it through.

To the outside world Beatrix and Dora are companions, carefully maintaining an outward show of ‘respectability’. Addressing each other as ‘Miss Veal’ and ‘Miss Ham’ when in the hearing of other people. Maintaining two bedrooms, although one is never slept in. Only their friend Oliver knows the truth, understanding himself what it’s like to have to live a lie.

It was all very different in earlier days when they were able to visit gay bars in London and for a few precious hours be their true selves. Dora loved dressing up and dancing, Beatrix usually watching from the sidelines happy to see Dora soaking up the admiration of others.

It would be wrong to think of Miss Veal and Miss Ham as an unremittingly sad book because there are moments of humour. For example, one of the regular visitors to the shop is Mrs Hodge who brings hand-knitted items for them to sell in the shop, the proceeds going to the charity Barnardo’s. (Beatrix secretly regards the mittens, hats and bootees as ‘disgusting little itsy, bitsy, bobitty, knits’.) The wool is provided by the vicar’s wife, unravelled from donations of unwearable garments and it turns out it’s a rather circular process.

I found the two women’s devotion to each other intensely moving. As Dora says, ‘We found each other and that has been the happiest of all things.’ Beatrix and Dora face a situation for which there is no easy answer, making the book’s enigmatic ending seem entirely appropriate.

In three words: Tender, intimate, poignant
Try something similar: Miss Boston and Mis Hargreaves by Rachel Malik

About the Author

Vikki Heywood was Executive Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 2003 to 2012 and before that Joint Chief Executive of the Royal Court Theatre. She has been an executive producer of many West End and Broadway productions, including Matilda the Musical.

She was Chairman of the RSA 2012-2018, and in 2020 was awarded a Damehood for services to the Arts. Miss Veal and Miss Ham is her first novel.

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Book Review – The Wolf’s Oath by Tim Hodkinson @HoZ_Books

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About the Book

938 AD. Einar leads the Wolf Coats back to the northern realms to honour a comrade’s last request.

When they encounter a fearsome band of mercenaries the Wolf Coats are vehemently opposed to joining forces… until a violent skirmish makes both sides realise they will be stronger together.

Einar and his crew must prove themselves to their new allies by investigating strange tales of bloodshed in the far north. To complete this mission, Einar must cross swords with allies of his most bitter enemy.

Einar will either win renown and respect – or the infamy of death and dishonour.

Format: Paperback (432 pages) Publisher: Head of Zeus
Publication date: 8th October 2026 Genre: Historical Fiction

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My Review

The Wolf’s Oath is the ninth book in The Whale Road Chronicles series. If you haven’t read the earlier books in the series don’t worry because there are brief recaps of previous events and introductions to the members of the Wolf Coats. They may have different backgrounds, faiths and personal histories but they are all skilled warriors bound by oaths of loyalty and comradeship.

The momentous events at the end of the last book, The Blazing Sea, mean Einar Thorfinnsson has been thrust into the role of leader of the Wolf Coats. It’s not something he wanted and he often feels the burden of responsibility for making life or death decisions. Nor has his leadership been met with universal approval. Only loyalty to the person from whom he inherited the role keeps the Wolf Coats united… for now. Einar knows that at some point he’s going to be challenged and the time will come when he must prove his worth as a leader.

With the promise of gold, the Wolf Coats travel to Hålogaland in the far north of Norway, an area inhabited by the Finni, a people steeped in magic. It’s an inhospitable place, a land of vast forests and bogs which is snowbound for much of the year. It’s also a place of folklore and superstition, with tales of elves and trolls who prey on the unwary. Not to mention the wolves and marauding bears. Their other reason for agreeing to undertake this long and dangerous voyage is the possibility it may allow them to fulfill a dying wish.

Their destination is the location of a fierce tussle for control between rival kings that has seen settlements destroyed and their inhabitants slaughtered without mercy. The identity of the assailants is unknown but there are strange reports of men with the heads of beasts, the dead returning to life and giants spouting fire. Einar and his comrades suspect there’s a more down to earth explanation especially as there’s one particular aspect they’ve encountered before, with deadly results.

Those who like their historical fiction to have plenty of action won’t be disappointed. There are brutal initiation tests, tavern punch-ups, ambushes, a holmgang (the Viking equivalent of a duel to the death) as well as plenty of narrow escapes. The climatic battle scene involves the Wolf Coats putting every last ounce of strength they have into maintaining a shield wall, although even that may not be enough.

As always there’s a wealth of authentic detail about everything from weaponry to social and religious customs. There are fantastic new characters to meet, as well as a few surprises for both the Wolf Coats and the reader.

I received an advance reader copy courtesy of Head of Zeus via NetGalley.

In three words:Thrilling, action-packed, immersive
Try something similar: A Night of Flames by Matthew Harffy

About the Author

Tim Hodkinson grew up in Northern Ireland where the rugged coast and call of the Atlantic ocean led to a lifelong fascination with Vikings and a degree in Medieval English and Old Norse Literature. Tim’s more recent writing heroes include Ben Kane, Giles Kristian, Bernard Cornwell, George R.R. Martin and Lee Child. After several years in the USA, Tim returned to Northern Ireland, where he lives with his wife and children.

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