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Annie Murray
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Water Gypsies Paperback – January 1, 2004

by Annie Murray (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 643
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It is 1942, and after a childhood of suffering in Birmingham, Maryann Bartholomew has built a life of happiness and safety with her husband Joel and their children, working the canals on his narrowboat, the Esther Jane. But the back-breaking work and constant childbearing take their toll on Maryann, and the tragic loss of her old friend Nancy, followed by a further pregnancy lead her to a desperate act which nearly costs her her life.

The walls of her security are broken down when Joel suffers an accident, and to keep the boats working, Maryann is forced to allow Sylvia and Dot, two wartime volunteers, into the privacy of their life. And when she discovers that someone keeps calling for her at Birmingham`s Tyseley Wharf, the dark memories of her past begin to overwhelm her life. For that someone, who seems to be watching her every move, is becoming more dangerous that even she could imagine...

Previous page
  1. Print length
    464 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pan
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 2004
  5. Dimensions
    4.37 x 1.1 x 7.01 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0330492144
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0330492140
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Annie Murray was born in 1960 in Berkshire, and studied English at Oxford University. Her first job took her to Birmingham where she met her husband, John. They have four children. In 1992 she began writing her first Birmingham novel, Birmingham Rose, which made the Times bestseller list when it was published in 1995. She has written six subsequent novels including, most recently, the highly successful Chocolate Girls.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pan; 1st edition (January 1, 2004)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 464 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0330492144
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0330492140
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.37 x 1.1 x 7.01 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 643

About the author

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Annie Murray

Annie Murray

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Annie Murray was born in Berkshire and read English at St John's College, Oxford. Her first 'Birmingham' novel, Birmingham Rose, hit The Times bestseller list when it was published in 1995. She has subsequently written many other successful novels, including The Bells of Bournville Green, sequel to the bestselling Chocolate Girls, Sisters of Gold and Black Country Orphan. Annie has four children and lives just south of Oxford. She also writes as Abi Oliver.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
643 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read. Love this time in history.
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2013
Verified Purchase
Really enjoyed reading this book. Annie Murrays books are all great each book I enjoy just
as much as the one before great author.
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Lynette Weeding
5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT READ
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2013
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Great read, just the thing for a lazy day and a glass of wine and nibbles, possibly at the beach or besides the pool
One person found this helpful
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Donna Michelle chadwick
5.0 out of 5 stars great book
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2016
Author: Annie Murray
Title: Water Gypsies
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Romance,

I was given this book along with the first book in this series the narrowboat girl.

This book has 458 pages and 50 chapters in it.

I would tell people that you should step outside your comfort zone with books because it is good to add more authors and genres to your reading portfolio. Even if you do not read books like this.

I normally read books of this genre but l also stepped outside my comfort zone with authors and genres l am so glad l did because l have read so many great books and come across some great authors.
I highly recommend this book but l would tell people to have the narrowboat girl as well so you can read the first book in the series and then this book so you know the full story not half.

Synopsis: It is 1942, after a childhood of suffering in Birmingham Maryann Bartholomew has built a life of happiness and safety with her husband Joel and their children, working the canals on his narrowboat, the Esther Jane. But the back-breaking and constant childbearing takes their toll on Maryann, and the tragic loss of her old friend Nancy, followed by a further pregnancy, leads her to commit a desperate act which nearly costs her life, the walls of her security are broken down when Joel suffers an accident and. To keep the boats working, Maryann is forced to allow Sylvia and Dot, two wartime volunteers, in to the privacy of her life. When she discovered that someone keeps calling her at Birmingham's tyseley wharf, the dark memories of her past begin to overwhelm her. For that someone, who seems to be watching her every move, is becoming more dangerous than even she could imagine. This is the seguel to the narrowboat girl. In august 1942 Maryann gives birth to twin girls by then she had two sons named Joel and Ezra and A daughter named Sally after her beloved sister and Maryann also had a son Harry who sadly passed away due to pneumonia and Maryann and Joel named their daughters Ada and Esther after Joel's mother and sister. Maryann's best friend falls in to the water when heavily pregnant and drowns and her unborn baby dies too. Maryann and Darius are very upset and Norman Griffin turns up and sets fire to the boat with Maryann, Sally, Rose and the twins Esther and Ada on and poor Maryann and Ada was burnt and a woman helped her with Ada's burn by putting flour on to dry it up.

Review: I found this book really easy to get in to and hard to put down once l started reading it. I was hooked after reading the first page. I was really happy to be reading the follow on to the narrowboat girl. I was happy to read that Maryann had got a happy life with her husband and their 5 children and I was sad to read that Maryann lost a little boy Harry that he died of pheumonia. I was sad to read that Maryann's best friend Nancy drowned like Ada Joel and Darius's sister but is was very upsetting for Maryann because Nancy was Maryann only friend. She always use to share all her feelings with her sister Sally but she took her own life because of the things Norman Griffin did to her. Maryann and Sally's mother Flo buried Sally under Griffin not Nelson which l thought was wrong after everything Norman did to them poor girls. I thought their mother only cared about herself not her four children. She wanted money not her children. I was sad to read that Nancy's unborn baby died after she fell in the water and drowned and Darius was very upset about the loss of his girlfriend and their unborn baby. I wish Nancy and Daruis could have been married because they made a great couple and l was happy Maryann did not die and she lived after her boat was set on fire. I felt sorry for poor Ada and Maryann being burnt and l hope Norman goes to jail where he belong

About The Author: Annie Murray was born in 1960 in Berkshire, and studied English at oxford university. Her first job took her to Birmingham where she met her husband, John. They have four children. In 1992 she began writing her first Birmingham novel, Birmingham rose, which made the times bestseller list when it was published in 1995. She has written six subsequent novels including, most recently, the highly successful chocolate girls.

About The Book: l love this cover and this book has two different covers and l love the front.

Star Rating: Five Out Of Five Stars
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Top reviews from other countries

Jennifer Daniels
5.0 out of 5 stars Good story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 7, 2023
Verified Purchase
Thought it was a bit of a Catherine Cookson type story but it got better.
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Rosie
5.0 out of 5 stars Part Two of Maryann’s life
Reviewed in Canada on December 16, 2018
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I loved this book. Very different than some of her others. I know most anything Ms. Murray writes is well received by me but this book touched so deeply on a sensitive topic that I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through both books in this series. She should be praised, though, for doing such a fine job.
I know I’ll remember this book, and its characters, Maryann, Joel, Sylvia and Dot for many years to come. I think I’ll just have to continue the story on my own, in my head throughout the next few days as I truly just don’t want the series to end, I fell in love with every single one of these people, but most especially Maryann.
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Pat Dunn
5.0 out of 5 stars Book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 31, 2023
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Really good read but sad in places
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Sue
4.0 out of 5 stars An exciting tale with a dark side.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 30, 2013
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If you like narrowboats and the history of the canal systems of Britain this is the book for you. The story is interwoven with a dark twist of love, fear and revenge.I thoroughly enjoyed it and have recommended it to some of my friends who enjoy reading.
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Midland Annie
5.0 out of 5 stars Most compelling of Annie Murray's books
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 9, 2011
Verified Purchase
I bought this book and Narrowboat Girl together and read them in the correct order. The characters are so alive and the story so full of happy and sad moments. I found that I could not put the book down until I knew what happened to certain characters in the book, which is a sign of great writing. It was gripping, enjoyable and for me especially poignant. I was born in Birmingham, although left there as a baby, returning to visit my Granny regularly. I remember the back to back houses and the back entries. I was born in Small Heath, which was mentioned, and my grandfather is buried in Lodge Hill Cemetery, also mentioned. So much of it brought back my heritage for me with names of places etc. The life on the canals was so hard in those times, but now the canals are full of life again but with bars, restaurants etc. which is a good thing. I have one problem though, I want another sequel to this family story. I want to know what happens to Maryanne and Joel and their children, when the children are grown and what they do with their lives. Please Annie, write another book about this lovely family.
3 people found this helpful
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