I really tried with this one as the premise sounded very intriguing. The characterisation and sense of place/time were excellent, I just struggled with the pace which was just too slow and I gave up about two thirds of the way through.

Inspired by the 1974 Lord Lucan case I am not familiar with, I felt the book portrayed the era incredibly well.
I enjoyed the changes in perspective and found they added interest and variety. The book had a steady pace making it a quicker than anticipated read.
the author did a great job of bringing the somewhat unlikable characters to life.
Not my usual read but surprisingly enjoyable.

Beautifully written, I found this novel particularly intriguing, as it's based on the events surrounding the disappearance of Lord Lucan. Knowing that the events covered really happened in real life adds an extra dimension to the story, and I found myself gripped. Set in the 70s, it is senstivitely written with a real sense of time - you feel completely immersed in that era. This is the second book I've read recently based on these events, and this one was most enjoyable.

A reimagining of the events leading up to the murder of a nanny in an aristocratic family that was a real crime case from the 1970s.

This book is based on the Lord Lucan murder case. But, the author has turned it into a fiction from the victim's point of view.
Let's get it out from the beginning, I thought this book was fantastic! It was very well written, it sucked me in from the beginning that I couldn't put it down.
We follow Mandy who becomes the nanny for a family. However, things get complicated soon as she finds herself in the middle of a fight between Lord and Lady Morven over the kids.
I love historical fiction when it's done well, and this was excellent. I felt that Dawson reflected the times of 1970s London perfectly. The characterisation was excellent, together with their pasts.
It was so emotional, so beautifully written, so poignant. I can't recommend it enough.

Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Language of Birds is a compelling retelling of the notorious Lord Lucan case. Lucan, an Anglo-Irish aristocrat, disappeared in 1974 after being suspected of murdering his children's nanny, Sandra Rivett. I daresay peoples continued interest in this mystery stems from not knowing whether Lucan, also known as John Bingham, is alive or dead but as a body has yet to be discovered it has fed into many different conspiracy theories about what happened to him. Being a late 80s baby I wasn't too aware of the vibe and the way society worked during the decade this crime took place, however, Ms Dawson does a fantastic job of describing what was acceptable/unacceptable and the range of views from those present during the 1980s and does so in an eminently readable style.

There have been a plethora of books sensationalising the case but none of them are centred around the victim in all of this, Ms Rivett. Ms Dawson dedicates this novel to her and main character Mandy is formed around known information about her; for all intents and purposes, she's a warm, vivid character and most engaging to follow on her journey. I found that the 70s were described beautifully and Dawson explores the issue of class within the context of the story where the affluent family of Lord Lucan is contrasted with the poor, downtrodden nannies who moved in their droves from close-minded rural locations in search of freedom in the big city and better lives. This is a gripping yet sensitive tale which I enjoyed immensely.

Many thanks to Sceptre for an ARC.

Based on the Lord Lucan murder case, the author has fictionalised the story from the victims’ point of view.
It’s the compelling story of Mandy who becomes the nanny for a well-to-do family and is soon embroiled in a battle between Lord and Lady Morven who fight over the children they actually seem to care little for.
The writing is very evocative and it’s easy to believe you’re in seventies London. The nanny - Mandy, and her friend Rosemary - have engaging back-stories and are very believable.
Above all it’s a story of how the poor and vulnerable become caught up in the carelessness of the rich, and is all the more poignant because Mandy is an innocent, acting with all the best intentions.
Well-written, captivating and all the sadder because it’s the true story of a wasted life.

A really compassionate and compelling tale based on the real life events of the Lord Lucan case. This reimagining fictionalised tale features the nanny, and very much told from her point of view. A really good insight into her background and in all the press coverage since has oft been forgotten. Enjoyed a lot