A Terrible Kindness cover art

A Terrible Kindness

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 15 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

A Terrible Kindness

By: Jo Browning Wroe
Narrated by: David Dawson
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £14.13

Buy Now for £14.13

*INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER*

*AN OBSERVER DEBUT OF 2022*

*AS FEATURED ON FRONT ROW*

When we go through something impossible, someone, or something, will help us, if we let them . . .

It is October 1966 and William Lavery is having the night of his life at his first black-tie do. But, as the evening unfolds, news hits of a landslide at a coal mine. It has buried a school: Aberfan. William decides he must act, so he stands and volunteers to attend. It will be his first job as an embalmer, and it will be one he never forgets. His work that night will force him to think about the little boy he was, and the losses he has worked so hard to forget. But compassion can have surprising consequences, because - as William discovers - giving so much to others can sometimes help us heal ourselves.

Biography: Jo Browning Wroe grew up in a crematorium in Birmingham. She has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia and is now Creative Writing Supervisor at Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge. Her debut novel, A Terrible Kindness, was shortlisted for the Bridport Peggy Chapman-Andrews award. She has two adult daughters and lives with her husband in Cambridge.

©2022 Jo Browning Wroe (P)2022 Faber Audio Coming of Age Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Romance Tear-jerking Heartfelt
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

Critic reviews

"It's a long time since I've read a debut novel that moved me so much." (Rachel Joyce)

"Extraordinary." (Sophie Hannah)

"A brave and tender novel." (Joanna Glen)
All stars
Most relevant
I could barely put this intriguing and clearly told story down. The author's use of language was precise, perfect and beautiful. I thought the relationships between characters were sincere and plausible and I loved being immersed in musical descriptions and the chorister's world. The understanding of human psychology was extremely satisfying and the backdrop to the story, the Aberfan disaster which provided the terrible event that caused William*s PTSD , felt realistic and honest. I had never considered embalming could offer such opportunities for kindness and never considered the emotional consequences for those dealing with dead bodies at the time of any disaster. I am enriched by reading this book and the narration was excellent.

Entranced by A Terrible Kindness

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A most unusual, but beautifully written, and read book. I enjoyed it so much. I live very near Aberfan so know the feelings.

Brilliant

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Loved it. Great story. Simple uncomplicated language. Bought copies for friends and family. My 95 year old Dad couldn't put it down and by 24 year old daughter loved it too. I can't wait to see it made into a movie or TV. It would be visually amazing! You need to get onto Spotify to download the Choral music to listen to in the background.

The book 0f 2022

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I thought my cowardlyness for hearing about such a dificult subject would have me fall at the first hurdle. But it is handled with such empathy and knowledgeable insight that you can thoroughly relate to the well drawn characters. Humour too...briliant!

Marvellous

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A moving story that takes you from moments in a life slowly bringing everything together.
Really enjoyable.

The narrator’s range of accents bring a beautiful story alive.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews