A sweet, gentle book which I think deserves a higher profile. I didn't see a lot of noise around it on hardback release which is a pity because it's a thoughtful romance with an interesting slant. Interestingly, I have recently read Careering by Daisy Buchanan and this covers remarkably similar ground but from the point of view of the older character (far more convincingly, in my view) and is more of an exploration of the personal ethics of journalism rather than the workplace politics. Ultimately though, it is a romance and, as such, is quite inventive. I'm not sure that I was completely convinced by the relationship that was formed between the two protagonists or that the 'moral dilemma' of the original story was not stretched a bit too far. But the writing was impeccable, unexpectedly witty and the characters were sympathetic. I was expecting this to be more literary than it was, and it is more commercial than the fiction that I usually read. As commercial fiction I think it is excellent. The 3 stars is more because this is not really my taste, on an objective level I would give it 4 stars.

Thorn Marsh is a journalist with a passion for the truth and integrity in reporting. Her job as news editor at the well-respected London Journal is even more important to her than her marriage to Nick, which crumbled under the strain, although she and Nick have remained friends. The worst day of Thorn’s life occurs when the Journal is sold and a new managing editor is brought in to make it more appealing to the masses (ie. more news about celebrities, less about the arts and books, more photos and a social media presence). Thorn finds herself replaced and demoted to the midweek supplement, writing upbeat segments about what to see and do in London.

Thorn’s only solace is in early morning walks on Hampstead Heath with her neighbour’s dog Gillie and pouring her heart out to Nick. Meeting Nick for a drink one evening, he shows her a photo he took early that morning on Hampstead Heath of a man in a suit diving off Viaduct Bridge into the pond. The way the light has caught his head, creating a halo over his fiery red hair, makes him look like an angel. Back home and happily inebriated, Thorn’s journalistic mind imagines the story behind the man’s dive into the water, but it’s not until the next morning that she realises she has sent the story to her news desk only for it to be already published and trending on social media under the headline “Angel of the Heath”.

Marika Cobbold’s novel is a fable for our times in this age of fake news and sensationalist headlines. Initially appalled at her own slip of journalistic standards Thorn is pulled between printing a retraction and thereby losing her job or hoping that the story will soon be replaced by the next social media sensation. Unfortunately, when the unconscious “Angel” is found in hospital with concussion after his dive, the story takes on a life of its own.

Infused with wit and humour, a little romance and some British quirkiness this is a very enjoyable read. The importance of truth and being honest with our families and relationships is at the heart of the novel. The richly depicted characters are flawed but very real as are the relationships that Thorn has with her complicated family, her neighbour and ex-husband and a stranger she meets on Hampstead Heath. And by being honest, Thorn might just find exactly what she’s been looking for.

A joyous read. Thorn is a journalist with a strong belief in the truth being central to her work. As news media becomes dominated by easy sensationalism, she loses her role as the newsroom editor and is demoted to write for a lifestyle magazine offering only uplifting stories to enchant the reader. Then in a moment of drunken madness she files a very successful but essentially fake news story about a man she has seen once on the Heath. In her efforts to cover her tracks she becomes involved with the main subject of her story, the angelic Rufus. An uplifting and witty novel with a bit more bite than I expected.

A clever and sobering look on the iffy morals, lack of integrity and the abundance of alternative facts that have become the mainstream in today’s click driven world of electronic journalism. It’s the story of a true journalist, Thorn, who can no longer fit in today’s news. Editors don’t want her because she refuses to follow the sensational rather than fact based newspaper reporting. A friendship with a holocaust survivor and a relationship with a stranger met on the heath are the best parts of the story. Slow paced with humor, the story gets better and is worth the pursuit.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this advance copy.

A quick read that has a certain charm to it.
I could never be sure if I admired the lead character, or just didn't like her.
If nothing else it's made me want to visit Hampstead Heath.