One summer weekend in 1949--but not our 1949--the well-connected "Farthing set," a group of upper-crust English families, enjoy a country retreat. Lucy is a minor daughter in one of those families; her parents were both leading figures in the group that overthrew Churchill and negotiated peace with Herr Hitler eight years before.
Despite her parents' evident disapproval, Lucy is married--happily--to a London Jew. It was therefore quite a surprise to Lucy when she and her husband David found themselves invited to the retreat. It's even more startling when, on the retreat's first night, a major politician of the Farthing set is found gruesomely murdered, with abundant signs that the killing was ritualistic.
It quickly becomes clear to Lucy that she and David were brought to the retreat in order to pin the murder on him. Major political machinations are at stake, including an initiative in Parliament, supported by the Farthing set, to limit the right to vote to university graduates. But whoever's behind the murder, and the frame-up, didn't reckon on the principal investigator from Scotland Yard being a man with very private reasons for sympathizing with outcasts and looking beyond the obvious.
As the trap slowly shuts on Lucy and David, they begin to see a way out--a way fraught with peril in a darkening world.
Industry Reviews
"If Le Carro?= scares you, try Jo Walton.... brilliant." -- Ursula K. Le Guin "A wonderful book, simultaneously a gripping mystery and a harrowing cautionary tale." -- Susan Palwick "It's smart, riveting, and deeply moving. Once you start reading, don't plan to put it down." -- Emma Bull "Succeeds in almost too many ways to count. It's a great, engaging read, and sharp as a knife." -- Robert Charles Wilson Amazing One of the most compelling and chilling books of the year." ""A subversive, trenchant and simultaneously dark and light piece of speculative fiction. Can I get an amen? The parallels between her Britain and today's climate are never didactic and always effective. It's also a book about husbands and wives, and about class and sex. It is quite an achievement, brothers and sisters. Hallelujah." ""A stiff-upper-lip whodunit boasting political intrigue and uncomfortable truths about anti-Semitism." ""Walton realizes an all-too-convincing alternate world in which the Third Reich but not its spirit was stopped at the English Channel. The characters are highly plausible, and in every aspect from the petty snobbery hampering the inspector to the we-don't-do-that-here conclusion, the plot encourages warily reconsidering the daily news." ""A beautifully-written alternate history thriller by World Fantasy Award-winner Jo Walton, "Farthing" is a smart, convincing tale of a country's slide into fascism that's sure to entertain casual and genre readers alike." -If Le Carre scares you, try Jo Walton. Of course her brilliant story of a democracy selling itself out to fascism sixty years ago is just a mystery, just a thriller, just a fantasy--of course we know nothing like that could happen now. Don't we?- --Ursula K. Le Guin
-Stunningly powerful...While the whodunit plot is compelling, it's the convincing portrait of a country's incremental slide into fascism that makes this novel a standout. Mainstream readers should be enthralled as well.- --Publishers Weekly, starred review
-Amazing... One of the most compelling and chilling books of the year.- --RT Book Reviews
-A subversive, trenchant and simultaneously dark and light piece of speculative fiction. Can I get an amen? ...The parallels between her Britain and today's climate are never didactic and always effective. It's also a book about husbands and wives, and about class and sex. It is quite an achievement, brothers and sisters. Hallelujah.- --Bookslut
-A stiff-upper-lip whodunit boasting political intrigue and uncomfortable truths about anti-Semitism.- --Entertainment Weekly
-Walton realizes an all-too-convincing alternate world in which the Third Reich but not its spirit was stopped at the English Channel. The characters are highly plausible, and in every aspect from the petty snobbery hampering the inspector to the we-don't-do-that-here conclusion, the plot encourages warily reconsidering the daily news.- --Booklist
-A beautifully-written alternate history thriller by World Fantasy Award-winner Jo Walton, Farthing is a smart, convincing tale of a country's slide into fascism that's sure to entertain casual and genre readers alike.- --Cinescope "If Le Carre scares you, try Jo Walton. Of course her brilliant story of a democracy selling itself out to fascism sixty years ago is just a mystery, just a thriller, just a fantasy--of course we know nothing like that could happen now. Don't we?" --Ursula K. Le Guin
"Stunningly powerful...While the whodunit plot is compelling, it's the convincing portrait of a country's incremental slide into fascism that makes this novel a standout. Mainstream readers should be enthralled as well." --Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Amazing... One of the most compelling and chilling books of the year." --RT Book Reviews
"A subversive, trenchant and simultaneously dark and light piece of speculative fiction. Can I get an amen? ...The parallels between her Britain and today's climate are never didactic and always effective. It's also a book about husbands and wives, and about class and sex. It is quite an achievement, brothers and sisters. Hallelujah." --Bookslut
"A stiff-upper-lip whodunit boasting political intrigue and uncomfortable truths about anti-Semitism." --Entertainment Weekly
"Walton realizes an all-too-convincing alternate world in which the Third Reich but not its spirit was stopped at the English Channel. The characters are highly plausible, and in every aspect from the petty snobbery hampering the inspector to the we-don't-do-that-here conclusion, the plot encourages warily reconsidering the daily news." --Booklist
"A beautifully-written alternate history thriller by World Fantasy Award-winner Jo Walton, Farthing is a smart, convincing tale of a country's slide into fascism that's sure to entertain casual and genre readers alike." --Cinescope If Le Carre scares you, try Jo Walton. Of course her brilliant story of a democracy selling itself out to fascism sixty years ago is just a mystery, just a thriller, just a fantasy--of course we know nothing like that could happen now. Don't we? "Ursula K. Le Guin"
Stunningly powerful While the whodunit plot is compelling, it's the convincing portrait of a country's incremental slide into fascism that makes this novel a standout. Mainstream readers should be enthralled as well. "Publishers Weekly, starred review"
Amazing One of the most compelling and chilling books of the year. "RT Book Reviews"
A subversive, trenchant and simultaneously dark and light piece of speculative fiction. Can I get an amen? The parallels between her Britain and today's climate are never didactic and always effective. It's also a book about husbands and wives, and about class and sex. It is quite an achievement, brothers and sisters. Hallelujah. "Bookslut"
A stiff-upper-lip whodunit boasting political intrigue and uncomfortable truths about anti-Semitism. "Entertainment Weekly"
Walton realizes an all-too-convincing alternate world in which the Third Reich but not its spirit was stopped at the English Channel. The characters are highly plausible, and in every aspect from the petty snobbery hampering the inspector to the we-don't-do-that-here conclusion, the plot encourages warily reconsidering the daily news. "Booklist"
A beautifully-written alternate history thriller by World Fantasy Award-winner Jo Walton, "Farthing" is a smart, convincing tale of a country's slide into fascism that's sure to entertain casual and genre readers alike. "Cinescope"" "If Le Carre scares you, try Jo Walton. Of course her brilliant story of a democracy selling itself out to fascism sixty years ago is just a mystery, just a thriller, just a fantasy--of course we know nothing like that could happen now. Don't we?"
--Ursula K. Le Guin
"Stunningly powerful...While the whodunit plot is compelling, it's the convincing portrait of a country's incremental slide into fascism that makes this novel a standout. Mainstream readers should be enthralled as well."
--"Publishers Weekly, "starred review
"Amazing... One of the most compelling and chilling books of the year."
"--RT Book Reviews
""A subversive, trenchant and simultaneously dark and light piece of speculative fiction. Can I get an amen? ...The parallels between her Britain and today's climate are never didactic and always effective. It's also a book about husbands and wives, and about class and sex. It is quite an achievement, brothers and sisters. Hallelujah."
"--Bookslut
""A stiff-upper-lip whodunit boasting political intrigue and uncomfortable truths about anti-Semitism."
" --Entertainment Weekly
""Walton realizes an all-too-convincing alternate world in which the Third Reich but not its spirit was stopped at the English Channel. The characters are highly plausible, and in every aspect from the petty snobbery hampering the inspector to the we-don't-do-that-here conclusion, the plot encourages warily reconsidering the daily news."
--"Booklist
""A beautifully-written alternate history thriller by World Fantasy Award-winner Jo Walton, "Farthing" is a smart, convincing tale of a country's slide into fascism that's sure to entertain casual and genre readers alike."
--"Cinescope" "Stunningly powerful While the whodunit plot is compelling, it's the convincing portrait of a country's incremental slide into fascism that makes this novel a standout. Mainstream readers should be enthralled as well." --"Publishers Weekly" (starred review) on "Farthing"
" "
"If Le Carr scares you, try Jo Walton." -Ursula K. LeGuin on "Farthing "
" "
"A stiff-upper-lip whodunit boasting political intrigue and uncomfortable truths about anti-Semitism." "--Entertainment Weekly "on" Farthing"
" "
""Farthing" is a quietly convincing horror, a tale of a world that might have been and that we're damned lucky we never really saw. Read it, think about it, and count your blessings." -Harry Turtledove on "Farthing"
" "
"Succeeds in almost too many ways to count. It's a great, engaging read, and sharp as a knife." -Robert Charles Wilson on "Farthing"
" "
"Manages the incredible, heart-rending trick of being a quiet little story about quiet, brave people while simultaneously conjuring the kind of haunting dystopia that rips your guts out." -Cory Doctorow on "Farthing"
" "
"Is there anything Jo Walton can't write?...It reads as if it was written just this morning." --"Locus" on "Farthing"
" "
"Packs a considerable wallop." --"Kirkus Reviews" on "Farthing"
" "
"Amazing One of the most compelling and chilling books of the year." --"Romantic Times Book Reviews" on "Farthing" "Stunningly powerful...While the whodunit plot is compelling, it's the convincing portrait of a country's incremental slide into fascism that makes this novel a standout. Mainstream readers should be enthralled as well." --"Publishers Weekly" (starred review) on "Farthing"
" "
"If Le Carre scares you, try Jo Walton." -Ursula K. LeGuin on "Farthing "
" "
"A stiff-upper-lip whodunit boasting political intrigue and uncomfortable truths about anti-Semitism." "--Entertainment Weekly "on" Farthing"
" "
""Farthing" is a quietly convincing horror, a tale of a world that might have been and that we're damned lucky we never really saw. Read it, think about it, and count your blessings." -Harry Turtledove on "Farthing"
" "
"Succeeds in almost too many ways to count. It's a great, engaging read, and sharp as a knife." -Robert Charles Wilson on "Farthing"
" "
"Manages the incredible, heart-rending trick of being a quiet little story about quiet, brave people while simultaneously conjuring the kind of haunting dystopia that rips your guts out." -Cory Doctorow on "Farthing"
" "
"Is there anything Jo Walton can't write?...It reads as if it was written just this morning." --"Locus" on "Farthing"
" "
"Packs a considerable wallop." --"Kirkus Reviews" on "Farthing"
" "
"Amazing...One of the most compelling and chilling books of the year." --"Romantic Times Book Reviews" on "Farthing" " Stunningly powerful... While the whodunit plot is compelling, it's the convincing portrait of a country's incremental slide into fascism that makes this novel a standout. Mainstream readers should be enthralled as well." --"Publishers Weekly" (starred review) on "Farthing"
" "
" If Le Carre scares you, try Jo Walton." - Ursula K. LeGuin on "Farthing "
" "
"A stiff-upper-lip whodunit boasting political intrigue and uncomfortable truths about anti-Semitism." "--Entertainment Weekly "on" Farthing"
" "
"" Farthing" is a quietly convincing horror, a tale of a world that might have been and that we' re damned lucky we never really saw. Read it, think about it, and count your blessings." - Harry Turtledove on "Farthing"
" "
" Succeeds in almost too many ways to count. It' s a great, engaging read, and sharp as a knife." - Robert Charles Wilson on "Farthing"
" "
"Manages the incredible, heart-rending trick of being a quiet little story about quiet, brave people while simultaneously conjuring the kind of haunting dystopia that rips your guts out." - Cory Doctorow on "Farthing"
" "
" Is there anything Jo Walton can' t write?...It reads as if it was written just this morning." --"Locus" on "Farthing"
" "
" Packs a considerable wallop." --"Kirkus Reviews" on "Farthing"
" "
"Amazing... One of the most compelling and chilling books of the year." --"Romantic Times Book Reviews" on "Farthing" "If Le Carre scares you, try Jo Walton. Of course her brilliant story of a democracy selling itself out to fascism sixty years ago is just a mystery, just a thriller, just a fantasy--of course we know nothing like that could happen now. Don't we?"
--Ursula K. Le Guin on "Farthing"
"It really is one of those books that succeeds in almost too many ways to count. It's a great, engaging read, and sharp as a knife. The most meaningful parahistorical novel I've come across in a long time, succinct and rivetingly readable."
--Robert Charles Wilson on "Farthing"
""Farthing" starts out as a cozy period house party mystery, becomes a brilliant alternate history yarn, and at last reveals itself to be a chilling political thriller. It's smart, riveting, and deeply moving. Once you start reading, don't plan to put it down."
--Emma Bull
"A wonderful book, simultaneously a gripping mystery and a harrowing cautionary tale. Walton's credible--and entirely convincing--alternative history becomes a terrifying meditation on class, power, and persecution."
--Susan Palwick on "Farthing"
