Reviews
Twists of Fate Reviews
READER REVIEWS FOR TWISTS OF FATE
5-STARS - Another Winner
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 5, 2026
Format: Kindle Edition - Verified Purchase
"Another brilliant read from the pen of Ann Thorsson. Using her home town as a backdrop to believable stories with unexpected plot twists that keep you hooked till the last page. Keep a spare weekend to read because once you start the roller-coaster won't stop."
5-STARS - Just buy it . You wont be disappointed......
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 28, 2025
Format: Kindle Edition - Verified Purchase
"Heart stopping . Just when you think that nothing else could possibly happen ... it does big time. Thoroughly enjoyed this book . Bought this after reading the previous ones as I knew I would not be disappointed."
5-STARS - A Comic Turn, Turned Serious
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 26, 2025
Format: Kindle Edition
"A period piece, this, set in author Ann Thorsson’s native Derbyshire of the 1970s, complete with cultural accoutrements of the UK at the time. It’s a social history of the 70s, a soap-opera-type story encompassing both highs and lows. Here are the popular dishes, the prawn cocktail, the Chicken Kiev, the Gammon Steak with Pineapple, followed by Black Forest Gateau or Arctic Roll, with Asti Spumante to wash it down. The TV viewing encompasses Charlie’s Angels and The New Avengers, the music from the likes of ABBA, the Bee Gees and AC/DC, while the hero of fashionable Formula One racing is James Hunt. The women use Carmen© rollers and heated tongs for their hair, while the men freshen up with Old Spice or the great smell of Brut splashed all over—before picking up their girls in Ford Escorts and Cortinas. You get the idea, so I won’t go on, but the narrative is overflowing with such items which set a realistic backdrop. Set against this are the Watkins, members of a typical family from the (fictional) mining town of Castle Ridge in Derbyshire. Dennis, the patriarch, proud owner of his own building, plastering and damp-proofing company, solid member of the community and of the local Rotary Club. Irene, the matriarch, former office worker turned housewife and mother of three sons. Kenny, the eldest, working with his father in the family business, Barry ditto at the local colliery—although not down the pit—and Mick the youngest still at the local Comprehensive school. They look set to follow a ‘normal and peaceful’ trajectory through life of marriages, births, working hard and raising the next generation—but Fate has other ideas in store for them. One mistake sends the entire edifice tottering, and the happiness of comedy falls into the pit of tragedy, set against the real-life background of the Miners’ Strike of the early 1980s. I note that the author has included an epigraph from Homer’s Iliad, invoking the spirit of Ancient Greek drama. She might also have quoted from Euripides, or any other of the dramatists of the age, with their view of a relentless fate against which human endeavour is useless. From that time onwards, the lower classes of society were used as comic characters, a necessary relief from the tragedy traditionally suffered by the higher-class characters; Shakespeare’s ‘rude mechanicals,’ transported to the film The Full Monty are a good example. During the nineteenth century, however, writers made it clear that the lower orders were as capable of tragic suffering as those at the top of the social heap, like Hardy’s Jude the Obscure. The Watkins family of Twists of Fate are a good example of both. Shown at the beginning enjoying the pleasures of life—dinner at the Rotary Club, social life, boys meeting girls with the resulting marriages and births—they suffer a tragic downfall due to one fatal flaw, a seed of tragedy planted early to germinate and produce a tragic harvest. This has to be one of the best-illustrated and constructed stories I’ve read in a while—the author even uses the fairytale device of the three siblings, with the youngest being the ‘special’ one, driving the action for better or worse. I thought I detected one tiny anachronism, through the use of the slang ‘cougars’, which isn’t generally thought to have begun until the 1990s; but that’s uncertain, however, so I’ll let it go. It doesn’t detract from the excellence of the piece in any case, so it gets five stars and a strong recommendation."
4-STARS - Another cracking read in the Castle Ridge series
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 December 2025
Format: Kindle Edition - Verified Purchase
"I have really enjoyed the books in the Castle Ridge series. Set in Derbyshire in the 70s and 80s, they have built real-life stories around realistic characters with depth.
Twists of Fate revolves around the Watkins family. On the face of it, they are the model family. Mr and Mrs Watkins have three sons, a good business, a nice family home, everything they could hope for. Their cosy life is built on hard work, love and, importantly, trust. Just as two of their sons, Barry and Kenny, fly the nest and start their own families, that trust begins to break as past secrets come to light. Then there is the other son, Mick, who has never really bought in to all the family values. The result? A whole heap of tension and, with it, trouble.
Twists of Fate is another cracking story in this super series, full of twists and shocks. A trip down memory lane too for me with all the 70s and 80s references. Not a mobile phone in sight!"
BOOK MARK! Book-blogger
5-STARS - Fantastic Read, lives up to its title… **NOTE: He also thinks it should be turned into a Netflix series!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 November 2025
Format: Kindle Edition - Verified Purchase
"The 3rd book in the Castle Ridge series set in the 70’s and 80’s but can 100% be read as a stand alone
If ever a title fit a book ‘tis this one
I’ve read some books with ‘twists’ but this has to be one of the twistiest have read ( and got to say Mick one of the character’s is twisted in his twists! )
We are back in Castle Ridge where the Watkins family, mum, dad and 3 grown up lads seem to have all they desire, 2 of the 3 are ‘courting’ and everything is going just great for them…..Mick however has a massive bag of spanners to put into the mix and when he does the family never really recover
A right good family drama here that shocked me at some of the goings on, dark at times and unapologetic in its honesty, was great."
5-STARS - A family who seem to have it all find that old sins cast long shadows…
November 10, 2025
"As a fan of Ann Thorsson’s Castle Ridge books I was delighted to receive a signed copy of this latest paperback edition. I honestly couldn’t put it down! What a page turner- with not one but quite the rollercoaster of twists in the tale. As ever, the characters are authentic to the location and time, with just the right amount of colloquial language to establish that Derbyshire context without making the story inaccessible to a wider readership. I love, love, love the descriptions of locations and events of that time and place. I highly recommend this book which can be enjoyed as a stand alone- or better still after reading the previous three novels. Please keep writing the Castle Ridge books Ann - I’m hoping there will be another to add to my collection soon."
5-STARS - Fabulous, gripping read
November 10, 2025
"Twists of Fate...superb gritty 4th book from Ann, based in Castle Ridge. This is the 4th book but can be read as a stand alone story. All four books are totally absorbing with believable characters set in believable environments but all is not what it seems. Totally recommend this book. Excellent work Ann."
5-STARS - Brilliant addition to the Castle Ridge series.
November 7, 2025 (UK)
Verified Purchase
"Very good and enjoyable read by an exceptional author. I live local to where Castle Ridge is based so my Kindle has so many highlighted parts in it from the area and moments from my own past. So many twists in this book - when you think you know where the story is heading there is another OW moment to keep you gripped. Brilliant book and a great addition to the Castle Ridge series."
5-STARS - Another Winner
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 5, 2026
Format: Kindle Edition - Verified Purchase
"Another brilliant read from the pen of Ann Thorsson. Using her home town as a backdrop to believable stories with unexpected plot twists that keep you hooked till the last page. Keep a spare weekend to read because once you start the roller-coaster won't stop."
5-STARS - Just buy it . You wont be disappointed......
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 28, 2025
Format: Kindle Edition - Verified Purchase
"Heart stopping . Just when you think that nothing else could possibly happen ... it does big time. Thoroughly enjoyed this book . Bought this after reading the previous ones as I knew I would not be disappointed."
5-STARS - A Comic Turn, Turned Serious
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 26, 2025
Format: Kindle Edition
"A period piece, this, set in author Ann Thorsson’s native Derbyshire of the 1970s, complete with cultural accoutrements of the UK at the time. It’s a social history of the 70s, a soap-opera-type story encompassing both highs and lows. Here are the popular dishes, the prawn cocktail, the Chicken Kiev, the Gammon Steak with Pineapple, followed by Black Forest Gateau or Arctic Roll, with Asti Spumante to wash it down. The TV viewing encompasses Charlie’s Angels and The New Avengers, the music from the likes of ABBA, the Bee Gees and AC/DC, while the hero of fashionable Formula One racing is James Hunt. The women use Carmen© rollers and heated tongs for their hair, while the men freshen up with Old Spice or the great smell of Brut splashed all over—before picking up their girls in Ford Escorts and Cortinas. You get the idea, so I won’t go on, but the narrative is overflowing with such items which set a realistic backdrop. Set against this are the Watkins, members of a typical family from the (fictional) mining town of Castle Ridge in Derbyshire. Dennis, the patriarch, proud owner of his own building, plastering and damp-proofing company, solid member of the community and of the local Rotary Club. Irene, the matriarch, former office worker turned housewife and mother of three sons. Kenny, the eldest, working with his father in the family business, Barry ditto at the local colliery—although not down the pit—and Mick the youngest still at the local Comprehensive school. They look set to follow a ‘normal and peaceful’ trajectory through life of marriages, births, working hard and raising the next generation—but Fate has other ideas in store for them. One mistake sends the entire edifice tottering, and the happiness of comedy falls into the pit of tragedy, set against the real-life background of the Miners’ Strike of the early 1980s. I note that the author has included an epigraph from Homer’s Iliad, invoking the spirit of Ancient Greek drama. She might also have quoted from Euripides, or any other of the dramatists of the age, with their view of a relentless fate against which human endeavour is useless. From that time onwards, the lower classes of society were used as comic characters, a necessary relief from the tragedy traditionally suffered by the higher-class characters; Shakespeare’s ‘rude mechanicals,’ transported to the film The Full Monty are a good example. During the nineteenth century, however, writers made it clear that the lower orders were as capable of tragic suffering as those at the top of the social heap, like Hardy’s Jude the Obscure. The Watkins family of Twists of Fate are a good example of both. Shown at the beginning enjoying the pleasures of life—dinner at the Rotary Club, social life, boys meeting girls with the resulting marriages and births—they suffer a tragic downfall due to one fatal flaw, a seed of tragedy planted early to germinate and produce a tragic harvest. This has to be one of the best-illustrated and constructed stories I’ve read in a while—the author even uses the fairytale device of the three siblings, with the youngest being the ‘special’ one, driving the action for better or worse. I thought I detected one tiny anachronism, through the use of the slang ‘cougars’, which isn’t generally thought to have begun until the 1990s; but that’s uncertain, however, so I’ll let it go. It doesn’t detract from the excellence of the piece in any case, so it gets five stars and a strong recommendation."
4-STARS - Another cracking read in the Castle Ridge series
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 December 2025
Format: Kindle Edition - Verified Purchase
"I have really enjoyed the books in the Castle Ridge series. Set in Derbyshire in the 70s and 80s, they have built real-life stories around realistic characters with depth.
Twists of Fate revolves around the Watkins family. On the face of it, they are the model family. Mr and Mrs Watkins have three sons, a good business, a nice family home, everything they could hope for. Their cosy life is built on hard work, love and, importantly, trust. Just as two of their sons, Barry and Kenny, fly the nest and start their own families, that trust begins to break as past secrets come to light. Then there is the other son, Mick, who has never really bought in to all the family values. The result? A whole heap of tension and, with it, trouble.
Twists of Fate is another cracking story in this super series, full of twists and shocks. A trip down memory lane too for me with all the 70s and 80s references. Not a mobile phone in sight!"
BOOK MARK! Book-blogger
5-STARS - Fantastic Read, lives up to its title… **NOTE: He also thinks it should be turned into a Netflix series!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 November 2025
Format: Kindle Edition - Verified Purchase
"The 3rd book in the Castle Ridge series set in the 70’s and 80’s but can 100% be read as a stand alone
If ever a title fit a book ‘tis this one
I’ve read some books with ‘twists’ but this has to be one of the twistiest have read ( and got to say Mick one of the character’s is twisted in his twists! )
We are back in Castle Ridge where the Watkins family, mum, dad and 3 grown up lads seem to have all they desire, 2 of the 3 are ‘courting’ and everything is going just great for them…..Mick however has a massive bag of spanners to put into the mix and when he does the family never really recover
A right good family drama here that shocked me at some of the goings on, dark at times and unapologetic in its honesty, was great."
5-STARS - A family who seem to have it all find that old sins cast long shadows…
November 10, 2025
"As a fan of Ann Thorsson’s Castle Ridge books I was delighted to receive a signed copy of this latest paperback edition. I honestly couldn’t put it down! What a page turner- with not one but quite the rollercoaster of twists in the tale. As ever, the characters are authentic to the location and time, with just the right amount of colloquial language to establish that Derbyshire context without making the story inaccessible to a wider readership. I love, love, love the descriptions of locations and events of that time and place. I highly recommend this book which can be enjoyed as a stand alone- or better still after reading the previous three novels. Please keep writing the Castle Ridge books Ann - I’m hoping there will be another to add to my collection soon."
5-STARS - Fabulous, gripping read
November 10, 2025
"Twists of Fate...superb gritty 4th book from Ann, based in Castle Ridge. This is the 4th book but can be read as a stand alone story. All four books are totally absorbing with believable characters set in believable environments but all is not what it seems. Totally recommend this book. Excellent work Ann."
5-STARS - Brilliant addition to the Castle Ridge series.
November 7, 2025 (UK)
Verified Purchase
"Very good and enjoyable read by an exceptional author. I live local to where Castle Ridge is based so my Kindle has so many highlighted parts in it from the area and moments from my own past. So many twists in this book - when you think you know where the story is heading there is another OW moment to keep you gripped. Brilliant book and a great addition to the Castle Ridge series."