I really liked how this book began and the discussions of the police about investigating the crime. It felt real, and I enjoyed that. The story itself shows the legal system and how Ethal is treated. It is well written and a good book.

A gripping and gritty novel set in York and Rochdale in the 1940s and 1950s. This is a profoundly moving story, full of extraordinary, eccentric characters and evocative scenes of poverty and hardship.
I don't think I have ever had so much empathy for a character before. Ethel Slater, looking after an invalid mother, living in fear of a violent father, and accused of murdering her four day old son, William, has drawn short straws all her life.
The courtroom drama as Ethel faces life or death is as vivid, realistic and tense as Witness For The Prosecution and To Kill A Mockingbird.
The author has beautifully captured life and death in a Yorkshire terraced street in WW2 and the years of austerity following the war.

On first glance this is the story of Ethel, who’s pregnant by her next-door-neighbour and all her hopes and dreams of marrying him have fallen apart. What could be a miserable, downtrodden tale of poverty, domestic abuse, illness and playing away, is ultimately a warm tale with glimmers of hope - strong characters like Auntie Annie, Olive, and the barrister Joyce and even Mrs Sath… ultimately I found that even in the pits of despair around the loss of William, there was a hopeful message. Additionally I really enjoyed the whodunnit aspect and had my own theories - all of which were totally unfounded. All in all, I would highly recommend this book.

I just reviewed Our Ethel by Phil Batman. #OurEthel #NetGalley

Whoa! Hard-hitting story about a women constantly abused by various men in her life and then arrested for murdering one of them.

Did she or didn’t she? Was it self-defence? Crime of Passion? Or just pure rage??

The locals and their “Chinese Whispers” create more havoc for this poor woman’s case. Who is telling the truth? Is she just a victim AGAIN and not a murderer?

The reader has to sift through the evidence and the Chinese whispers from the local community to decide the woman’s fate…

Fascinating and grim police procedural. The author did a great job with all the courtroom scenes. Difficult to get through but extremely important and well written tale of a dead baby and his vulnerable mother living on the fringe of society. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E ARC of this

Our Ethel is set in York, in the 1950's Ethel lives with her downtrodden, ill mum - who mostly lives in her bed in the front room. Dad is a womaniser, drinker and is often violent to Ethel's mum.
Ethel falls pregnant by her childhood friend - the boy next door and the book opens with Ethel finding her newborn dead in her bed.
The story is gritty, raw, and very thought-provoking, Ethel is a gullible but loveable character who has been used and manipulated by the men in her life and as Ethel navigates the accusations, police, the courts, it's clear to the reader just how much Ethel doesn't understand of her new world.
The book should come with a trigger warning as the chapters covering the baby's demise and subsequent scenes in the pathologist are really hard to read.

Our Ethel tells the story of Ethel Slater, a young woman accused and put on trial for the murder of her baby in 1950's York.
Ethel grows up in a working-class community and the all characters are well-drawn with their secrets and prejudices. I did not find the dialogue very convincing though, as the characters did not drop their aitches consistently. I found this irritating as the story progressed.
The story begins in April 1942 and ends with the coronation of Queen Elizabeth on 2nd June 1953. I found it strange that Mrs. Pearson could buy 6 thick rashers of streaky bacon with no mention of a ration book in 1952, And would Dennis Slater's customers boycott his shop so readily given that housewives had to register with particular shopkeepers for their foodstuffs?
The medical evidence given at the trial is very detailed and reflects the author's expertise in this subject.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc. All opinions are my own.

I love mystery books and was stoked to read this book. I wasn't able to fully get into the story and felt it was very depressing. I have faith others will enjoy this story. I want to thank the publisher, author and net galley for the arc. My review will only be posted on netgalley.

I very much enjoyed this book, Fair warning, it is depressing subject matter but it does shine a light on injustices i'm sure have happened numerous times to many " Ethels" out in the world. Beautifully written. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This book sounded so up my alley it wasn’t funny… so I immediately requested and was delighted when I was given a free ARC. Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for that.

Unfortunately, it is unable to keep my interest. I really love the actual writing and the way the Yorke slang and accent is very prominent in here… it like reading a conversation with my aunt and grandmother. But… I just don’t think I will go back to it…. The storyline is not engaging enough for me.

So instead of reading to the end and having a bad experience I am going to give 4 stars in good faith and leave it at that. My review will not be posted anywhere else other than NetGalley.

Great book and throughly enjoyed.
Our Ethel was a simple soul that people overlooked or took advantage of and the writer has written this with great insight to her world.
She has been taken advantage of from she was born and has now been left with a murder charge hanging over her.
Great book well written and throughly enjoyed.

Bit of a grim one which i almost stopped reading from the start.....the dead baby.
I picked this up on numerous occasions and feel that i got through it rather than it got better.
Sorry to give such a negative review but this sadly was just not for me.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

3.5 stars


What a bleak life Ethel lives.
Abusive father, crippled mother, on the poverty line and then pregnant out of wedlock.
You can't help but feel for her.
Some absolute horror of characters in here, the male ones, that summed up the backwards thinking of the times perfectly.
Interesting to see the science being used at the times.
Can't say it was an enjoyable read, but I like a bit of the depressing and downtrodden.