from timjones

Well-written novel about the chain of consequences set in motion when an elderly woman is mugged, and how this affects a range of characters. The main storyline is beautifully written and well-resolved - some of the other storylines are less appealing, or dealt with too abruptly. Very enjoyable, ...

from vancouverdeb

When elderly Charlotte Rainsford is mugged and pushed to the ground, many other lives are affected in a domino- like fashion. Charlotte's hip is broken, necessitating her daughter Rose to attend to her in hospital. Rose's employer, the snobbish self - important Lord Peters, finds himself forced t...

from lit_chick

When Charlotte Rainsford, retired literature instructor, is accosted by a petty thief on a London city street, the consequences of her injuries and subsequent rehabilitation ripple through the lives of family, acquaintances, and strangers alike - creating a butterfly effect of which she is largel...

from Baroniabelle

Penelope Lively cleverly uses the Butterfly effect to show the consequences of one random incident on a disparate range of characters. Charlotte the elderly victim of a mugging reminisces on life and the effect of ageing. Higher on the social strata is Henry, who though even older and lacking sel...

from steve02476

Fun story, actually a fun set of connected stories. Lightweight, but in a good way. I really liked the author's voice.