Reviews

Reviews of Gillian’s novels After the Funeral, A Question of Loyalty and Vision of Light, taken from GoodReads, Waterstones, Amazon and the Book Blogging community.

I’ve just finished reading ‘After the Funeral’ and couldn’t put it down! As someone who normally only has time to read whilst on holiday, this book changed all that. Found it gripping from the minute that I started to read it with a credible characters and a great storyline which had some real surprises in it….Look forward to many more books from this author.
David Carrick (Amazon)

A Question of Loyalty can be read as a standalone novel, but I had previously read and enjoyed the author’s preceding novel, After the Funeral, which introduces Julia’s character. To sum up, an exciting and compelling drama which I raced through in a couple of days- more like this please!
Sarah Barnes (Amazon)

An interesting read which honestly speaks about the complexity of human relationships with characters – some likeable some not so- but all believable. I now feel I want to read this author’s other work
Jan, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Question-Loyalty-Gillian-Poucher/dp/1788158938

Wow! Are you sure this is really a debut novel? I can’t believe it myself. I loved the cover of the book and thought it to be very haunting. This was such a dark and disturbing read and it had me gripped from the start. I liked the style of writing, the descriptions and the diary entries from the Second World War, which I thought were a good idea. They made for intriguing reading. I also really liked the storyline itself and where it was heading… ‘After the Funeral’ is a beautiful and tragic tale of love, loss and family. I look forward to more from this author.
Sonya at A Lover of Books Blog

It is such an emotional story full of secrets, love and devastating loss. It has, however, hope for a brighter future with long lost family and new relationships. It is hard to believe this is a debut novel. I highly recommend and will be looking forward to future books by Gillian Poucher.
Kerry Parsons – Chat About Books Blog

A thoroughly enjoyable book which I finished in a day. This novel is set across three generations, but mainly focuses on Julia, a middle aged woman facing a crisis in her life with the breakdown of her relationship and the death of her mother. Julia’s life is complicated further by the emergence at her mother’s funeral, of a stranger who hints at a family secret. The characterisation in the novel is particularly strong and Julia especially comes across very convincingly as a woman seemingly in control, but in reality unraveling. Many of the issues besetting Julia will strike a chord as she battles with her partner’s infidelity, her own childlessness and looming menopause, however, the novel is leavened by a dry sense of humour (I particularly enjoyed the poisonous Aunt Ada). Fate plays a large part in the plot and I didn’t find the ending a huge surprise, however, there were so many twists, turns and sub plots along the way, that I found my attention fully engaged to the final page. Well worth reading.
Barnes on the Waterstones Website

The author leads the reader on a gripping, twisty journey alongside Julia as she tries to discover if the stranger is her long lost relative. I really enjoyed the mystery side of the story which was very well paced and it was fun trying to work everything out. The inclusion of diary entries from the second world war was especially interesting though a heartbreaking read and I really felt for Emily having to deal with everything.
Joanna Park – Over the Rainbow Book Blog

After the Funeral is a convoluted and compelling tale about families and secrets. The core of the story lies with Emily whose death is the impetus behind the ongoing revelations that had been folded into three generations of this family. Going back to World War II, we follow the children of the vicar at Lincoln as they mature. We see the choices they have made and the repercussions of the same and follow the waves of choice and chance. A debut novel, this is an excellent British tale taking place in Lincoln and Norfolk. The characters are interesting and empathetic, the prose colorful and the locale pictured well. I am happy to recommend Gillian Poucher to friends and family.
Bonnye Reed F, Goodreads

AFTER THE FUNERAL by Gillian Poucher has a tense atmosphere from the very beginning which really adds to the plot and while the characters are not necessarily likeable, they are compelling. There is drama, lies, and harshness from the past which must be confronted in this story and I thoroughly enjoyed discovering the truth as the story progressed. AFTER THE FUNERAL by Gillian Poucher is a well thought out story with plenty to keep you hooked to the very end.
booksofallkinds on Goodreads