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The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters

The Paying Guests

by Sarah Waters
  • BookBrowse Review:
  • Critics' Consensus (9):
  • Readers' Rating (13):
  • First Published:
  • Sep 16, 2014, 576 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Sep 2015, 592 pages
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Cathryn_Conroy

What a Delicious Book!
Oooh! What a delicious book! It just sneaks up on you--and in a good way. It takes a bit to get into it, but it's worth the wait. By the time the plot really gets moving the characters are fully developed and seem like real people. And look out! You won't be able to put it down.

It's 1922--just after WWI. Frances lives with her mother in a lovely British neighborhood in a house that is falling down around them--just like their finances. To make ends meet, they reluctantly take in borders, a married couple named Leonard and Lilian Barber, whom they refer to as "paying guests." Frances quickly develops a friendship with Lilian. Leonard and Lilian's marriage is falling apart, they fight, there is great unhappiness and Lilian turns to Frances. And then the unthinkable happens.

"The Paying Guests" has it all--historical fiction, love and sex, crime and intrigue and lots of suspense. Author Sarah Waters is a master!
Roe P

Better than I ever expected
The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters was not what I was expecting when I picked it up...but soon after I started reading I found it to be much better than I thought. Ms. Waters writes a compelling story..but what really sets this book apart is that with her words she sets the stage for you and while reading it is as if you can see every scene in the book...As I read I could envision the characters and I could feel their feelings and hear their thoughts. Ms Waters has an exceptions talent of bring this book to life. Go out and get this wonderful book and enjoy it.!
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