THE DARKENING
SKIES
Second in the Durham Mining Trilogy
*An Amazon Kindle Bestseller*
Available as an ebook, paperback and audio.
Click here to buy from Amazon.co.uk
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The Darkening Skies is a sequel to The Hungry Hills and continues the story of the fictitious mining community in County Durham, following the fortunes of the Dimarcos, an Italian family caught on the 'wrong side' at the outbreak of the Second World War.
The once popular, and accepted ice-cream
parlour owners, face increasing hostility and
the novel illustrates the harsh treatment that Italians faced as
they were indiscriminately rounded up and interred, their shops
attacked and their families left to struggle on alone. With its
vivid backdrop of a pit-town strained by the tensions of war, The
Darkening Skies is a vibrant and moving story of conflicting loyalties,
passions and cultures.
Janet: "This was inspired by stories I had heard about the harsh
treatment that Italians faced during the war in this country
after emigrating here in the 1900's. Despite the fact that most
did not have any allegiance to the fascists in Italy and indeed
a whole generation had been born and brought up in this country
they were indiscriminately rounded up and interred, their shops
attacked and their families left to struggle on alone. At the heart
of it is a bitter-sweet love story."
Reviewers Comments:
"A moving and well written tale, The Darkening Skies continues
the story of the people who live in the fictitious mining community
of Whitton Grange. Janet convincingly portrays the rising tide of
hate that engulfs the village...There is a good deal of worry, misery
and poverty. But there is also courage, warmth, and, above all hope
that things can only get better. With the coal mines largely a thing
of the past in the North East, The Darkening Skies acts as a timely
reminder of a way of life that will soon be all but forgotten."
The Newcastle Journal
"This rich slice of pit-town life shows a world which is
all but forgotten."
Northern Echo
"Her latest novel paints an all-too realistic picture of
what life must have been like in the Durham pit villages as the
Depression wore on and the spectre of war reared its ugly head."
Newcastle Journal
Readers Comments:
I have just finished reading The Darkening Skies - it's a rare
treat to find one of your books in the library. I enjoyed it
very much. The story was enthralling and by the end of the book
I felt as though I knew some of the characters personally. The relationship
between Sara and Joe was particularly poignant.
J.H. - Louth, England.
I have so enjoyed The Darkening Skies. It was an enthralling
saga and so true to life of that era. Also knowing the area
so well made it more special for me. - I could visualise the road
from Durham to Stanhope and Kilhope Wheel. The Hungry Hills is very
popular too and has passed around various friends and family. Thank
you for autographing my book, nice to have when you are as famous
as Catherine Cookson!!
B - Lincoln England
I have just finished reading your book The Darkening Skies and
enjoyed it enormously. I was fascinated by the Dimarco family
who reminded me so much of my own relations. My maiden name was
Demarc and my parents originally came from Cassino and owned various
ice cream cafes in Swansea and Glasgow … my parents had very similar
experiences to those in your book. I look forward to reading more
of your books.
R.N. - Herts, England.
Unfortunately I couldn't wait to read The Darkening Skies
and Never Stand Alone between my studies as you suggested and ended
up finishing both before I finished my vacation. They were both
excellent although I have to admit I cried a lot at the end of The
Darkening Skies.
K.M. - Toronto, Canada.
I have now read your The Darkening Skies...I found it most impressive.
The characters seem to me convincing. You give what I am sure is
a true as well as an engagingly vivid picture of life in a mining
village of County Durham; and you show a fine and sympathetic understanding
of human nature. Your bringing out so vividly both of the hardships
and the persistent courage of the miners and their families is a
most valuable memorial of community life which in these last decades
has been heartlessly destroyed. The Darkening Skies is a worthy
sequel to The Hungry Hills. I hope that both of them will have the
success they certainly deserve, and that you will be encouraged
to write more equally humane novels.
C - Durham, England.
I am getting great pleasure reading The Darkening Skies
...I hope that number three will soon be in the bookshops.
M - Durham, England.
I spotted The Darkening Skies in a book shop...and read
it with great interest and enjoyment. You captured the interest
immediately and maintained it all the way through - very clever!
S - Durham, England.
I think your new book is wonderful. When will the next one
be published? Congratulations.
G.J. - Burley, England.
I have just finished reading the fantastic novel 'The Darkening
Skies' and I must say that I found your novel impossible to
put down. You have written a story about prejudice, hatred and passion
and you've managed to make me chuckle as well as shed a tear. You
clearly are one of the genre's best writers. I hope that you keep
producing more great books.
J.D.B. - Malta.
If you would like to write to Janet by
e-mail with your comments about this or any other book, please use
this e-mail link: janet@janetmacleodtrotter.com
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