This was my first experience of Charlotte Mendelson and I enjoyed it immensely! This audiobook of the original novel published in February 2003, is narrated to perfection by Fleur de Wit.

A story steeped in dark academia, the Lux family move around the ancient city of learning holding onto their secrets and anguish. Jean the unassuming wife of Oxford don Victor is bored and is tentatively starting to explore the boundaries of her marriage, now that her daughters are older. Meanwhile, Victor is determined to be elected to give the prestigious Spenser lecture and starts to obsess about the reappearance of an old adversary. Eve, the eldest, a highly intelligent overachiever and Phoebe, her younger 'perfect' rebel sister operate in their own individual orbits, both feeling more and more isolated as the family status quo starts to shudder.

Mendelson lures us into the heart of the family with her regularly changing POV's, she purposefully keeps specific characters out of the direct narrative, so that we experience a one-sided view of a relationship dynamic until she is ready to pull back another diaphanous layer, a tool that she uses with agonizing poignancy.

A tale about the desire to belong and the need to escape, a story of secret love and deep felt loathing - what this book shows us with captivating grace is the catastrophic fallout when communication and connection fail, when your assumptions and preconceived ideas of another render you blind to what is clearly in front of you.

I loved it - will definitely be picking up Wife and The Exhibitionist soon.

*Daughter of Jerusalem* by Charlotte Mendelson is a compelling, character-driven novel that explores the complexities of family, identity, and personal growth. The story centers on the protagonist, a young woman named Miriam, as she navigates the expectations placed on her by her family and the wider societal pressures she faces. Set against the backdrop of both contemporary and historical elements, the book offers a nuanced look at the challenges of reconciling one's past with the demands of the present.

Mendelson’s writing is sharp and insightful, delving into the intricacies of relationships and the internal struggles of her characters. The narrative is rich with emotional depth, and the themes of loyalty, love, and sacrifice are explored with a delicate touch. The pacing can be a bit slow at times, but the book’s depth and character exploration make it a rewarding read.

Overall, *Daughter of Jerusalem* is a thought-provoking and poignant novel, with strong emotional resonance and a focus on the complexities of identity and family dynamics

This one was a mixed bag for me.

Whilst I found the storytelling compelling and the sense of place absorbing, I found the characters almost unbearable to the point of unbelievable. The parents are either absent, selfish or have favourites (particularly the mother who was to the point of childish), the daughters are self absorbed and vindictive - I did occasionally feel sorry for Eve but found Phoebes storyline unbelievable. If the authors aim is to create a cast of characters you don’t want to connect with then they have done a good job.

I think with some more character development and faster pace, this story could have been better but I do commend the way Mendelson creates tension, a sense of place and some unexpected twists. An interesting (and somewhat dramatic look) at how love and hate can eat away at a person and a family.

Also to note the audiobook version of this was narrated well. I enjoyed the reading of it and it did keep me up listening to it. I wish I had enjoyed the story a bit more.

I do also think there should be perhaps a warning somewhere as this book does delve into some deep, emotional topics.