#BookReview ‘The Goldhanger Dog’ Wanda Whiteley

About the book…

In 1553, Tudor England is on the precipice of change, with young King Edward in ill health and the religious fate of the country hanging in the balance. But far from power, in the wilds of the Essex Marches, fifteen-year-old Dela meets Turnspit, a scruffy and morose dog sentenced to a life of drudgery turning a kitchen spit.

After Dela frees Turnspit, the pair of misfits flee from persecution, seeking sanctuary with Princess Mary Tudor. Little do the two friends realise that the princess is facing the greatest trial of her life, and they soon find themselves in grave danger, with only friendship to protect them.

The incredible story of a turnspit dog, a mainstay of Tudor kitchens which has since gone extinct, The Goldhanger Dog is a magical story which explores the power of friendship and family in the face of adversity and misfortune.

My thanks to Ben from Midas PR for inviting me to read and review ‘The Goldhanger Dog’ by Wanda Whiteley which is out from May 28th, published by Lammas Publishing.

I am always a little nervous reading historical fiction because often it flies above my head and it can be on occasion, a little exclusionary.

But in the Goldhanger Dog, I need have no fear of this because it begins with the most human and relatable experiences, the loss of a parent.

Dela has already lost her father to the unscrupulous Lord Tallon who has taken advantage of the Reformation Act to snatch up parcels of land belonging to abbeys, and uses the anti-Cathplic fervour to criminalise, and kill,Dela’s dad.

And with the death of her mother, the Lord is looking for any excuse to get rid of her too, and her ‘unnatural’ gift of being able to calm, reassure and connect with animals makes her ripe for the accusation of ‘witch’.

Her huge heart and burning social conscience at the young age of 15, is what marks Dela as special. As well as drawing animals to her,she attracts people who want to care for her like her guardian.

Scenes such as when she interrupts a bull being goaded into fighting dogs make you hold your breath, fill you with rage at the way these poor animals are treated, then breathe a sigh of relief when Dela and the dogs make a spectacular getaway.

But when the position of their village takes on a unthought of significance due to the ailing King Edward, vipers begin to circle the nest looking to poison and pick off anyone who presents themselves as potential enemies.

And that includes Dela.

Places in a world where she is reliant on her relationship with, and beholden to the men with power, how will Dela and her companion, Turnspit, will survive this tumultuous period in England’s history.

Full of unforgettable characters and scenes that make themselves feel as modern and relevant and fraught with danger as any modern thriller, this is a book with reverence, historical significance and a huge beating heart

About the author…

Wanda has worked for over 20 years in the publishing industry. After starting out in children’s publishing at Penguin, she moved to adult book publishing.

For 12 years she was a Publishing Director at HarperCollins where she selected and shaped hundreds of projects for the marketplace.

She is an independent consultant for Writers and Artists, and her blog is published on their site. As a writer, Wanda has collaborated on two memoirs: ‘Streetkid’ , which spent 20 weeks in the top 10 of the Sunday Times’ non-fiction bestsellers list in 2005; and ‘Maramalade and Machine Guns’ published in August 2012.

Twitter @wanda_whiteley @midaspr