Blog Archives - Elizabeth Horton-Newton

A Must Read

12/27/2015

5.0 out of 5 stars
By Teresa Derrick on December 27, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
I was unable to set this book down. I must admit though it is a fictional book it could have anyone believing in the conspiracy of J.F.K. Bill and Olivia have been long time neighbors and friends. When Olivia decides she needs to know about the assassination of the President on the fiftieth anniversary, Bill will help her to get her answers , more than she could know.

Amazing

12/27/2015

By S. Fryetton December 25, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
This was a great read. Like many people of my generation, the Kennedy assassination has always fascinated me. This is a fine tale of "what ifs". Well rounded characters come to life in this book that is hard to put down. I greatly enjoyed this, glad I read it.

Where cider meets assassination

12/22/2015

5.0 out of 5 stars
By Amazon Customer on 22 June 2015
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
One Thursday after school six of us teens met up outside the Gaumont in Cheltenham. With the exuberance of youth we giggled our way in to watch The Village of the Damned, a film adaptation of John Wyndham’s science fiction novel, The Midwich Cuckoos. I was mad keen on science fiction and eager to see the film and to hold the hand of Elaine (surname withheld to protect our blushes.). Sadly, Colin wasn’t so keen on the film and might have imbibed too much under-age cider. He kept tickling the girls either side of him and their histrionics, followed by booing from the audience around us attracted the manager who gave us a warning. A few minutes later the film was stopped and I thought we were definitely going to be ejected but sadly it was worse.
The date was 22nd November 1963
The manager walked in front of the now blank screen, coughed and said, “I am afraid I have shocking news. I’m sorry to say that John F Kennedy, the President of the USA, has been shot and feared dead.” He stood there as if not knowing what to say next. The auditorium hushed, waiting for him to say more.
He spread his arms wide. “There will be more news on the radio over the next hour or so, and television might be interrupted to update us. I don’t know about you, but I want to go home.”
People stood, too shocked to speak. Expect Colin, who giggled. Not understanding.
Over the years we have been subjected to many scenarios about the assassination. No one I knew believed that a lone gunman could have been so skilful, or ‘lucky’ to get those bullets in the right spot, at the right time with such a poor gun and yet it was harder to believe that an organisation, let alone the government, could do it. The whole topic is compelling, so it wasn’t that this was yet another book on whether Oswald did it, but oh good, another chance to ruminate on the tragedy. At the same time, that ‘where was I when...’ feeling returns to tease me.
In the words of Jean Gill when reviewing Mark Fine’s The Zebra Affaire, ‘this is a book to savour’ rather than gallop through. I thought the plot was developing too slow a pace to keep me interested until a revelation occurred that sent shockwaves through my Kindle, up my arm and blew me away. After that the pace changed from a gentle canter to gallop—later to canter again, and I was grateful. View from the Sixth Floor is one of those rare delights that uses pace to grab you by the throat, daring you to breathe, changing your view for ever.
On the 50th anniversary of JFK’s anniversary Olivia has the urge to see the Book Depositary for herself. Her neighbour, Bill, is a loner, tries to dissuade her from her journey but eventually insists on accompanying her. It’s a road trip romance spiced as a thriller. Some of the Americanisms made me laugh. The protagonist, Olivia, is fond of what she calls ‘hard apple cider’. In the UK all cider is hard apple except for scrumpy, which is made in the southwest in vats, often with meat thrown in to sizzle to nothing in the high acidity. I drank so much as a teen that I cannot bear the taste now. We’d drank some before entering the Gaumont...
Elizabeth Horton-Newton is adept at bringing luxuriant settings to the reader especially at the beginning of chapters such as ‘bright reds and golds of autumn looked like fire on the water’ and I loved where it was so hot the ‘rain caused steam to rise from the ground like small ghosts’. All right, the climatologist in me knows you can’t see steam, it’s condensation we view but it would lose its magic if rewritten. I’d ponder on what kind of music it was when the ‘band played covers’, a term not used in the UK and what on Earth are ‘snicker doodles’? Vive le difference!
I like quotes that set a chapter up. Many good ones in this book and my favourite and most appropriate is one by JFK: ‘The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie, deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive, unrealistic.’ And as Olivia says, ‘We weren’t angry with one another, we were angry with the world.’
View from the Sixth Floor is both gentle in performance yet powerful in content, a page-turning thriller I’m glad to have read.

Great book. Would recommend.

12/22/2015

5.0 out of 5 starsend.
ByN. Gosneyon 18 April 2015
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I have to admit I wasn't sure what to expect from this book initially. Firstly I'm not American, so my knowledge of JFK's assassination is fairly limited, and I was born 20 years after it happened, so although I obviously know a little about the subject, it's not something I'm terribly familiar with. I guess I thought I was going to be reading a book that is fairly politically heavy, perhaps focusing on the government or members of congress...something like that. So I was very surprised (and, if I'm honest, pretty relieved) to find that I was reading a book about a relatively unassuming down-to-earth grandmother in her 60s. It couldn't have been further from what I'd thought I'd be reading about. I noticed another reviewer remarking on something similar - it's true, it's just not what you expect!

Olivia is, in many ways, a very emotional woman. At times I thought she got very carried away with the things she worried about, making mountains out of molehills and worrying about every little thing. Then it occurred to me that, of course, it made sense. She's living alone, her husband having recently died, and she's probably feeling quite vulnerable. I liked her though - she might have been a little paranoid, but I suppose it's true what they say - it's not paranoia if they're really watching you!

The relationship between Olivia and Bill was very sweet. I enjoyed reading about their developing feelings for each other, and it was lovely that Olivia had a supportive network of family (well, one son at least), and friends to be there for her when she most needed them.

The author kept me intrigued as to what Olivia was going to do next once she had been clued in on...well...for the sake of avoiding spoilers let's just say it's Oswald related and leave it fairly ambiguous (in case you didn't get that from the title!)

I really must seek out some Hard Apple Cider - it sounds intriguing!

Great book, lots of little what-ifs to keep you guessing. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending it.

Interesting flight of fancy...

12/22/2015

ByThomas E Hoddenon 27 September 2015
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
This mystery thriller takes a fanciful conspiracy theory, and finds somewhere new to take it. At it's heart is a story of consequences and relationships, as well as the burden of a secret. Ultimately it is a story of a leap of faith, with the protagonists asked to trust in her heart, where there is no evidence. It does not pretend to be some great insight to the truth, but asks instead how we could ever be sure of any such truth.

Intriguing alternative history of J.F.K. assassination

12/21/2015

ByKimbieon 25 March 2015
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this alternate history of J.F. Kennedy’s assassination, so I went into it without any pre conceptions. I am a UK resident and as such don’t have as much knowledge or emotional ties to the Kennedy killing, so I read this story with a relatively open mind. What I didn’t expect was to be reading a sort of romance novel between older people. Yes, hooray, a love story that shows passion and affection between a couple in their twilight years. I think Olivia and Bill’s story more than the conspiracy theory, is what kept me reading on.

I don’t really know that much about the subject matter, so on occasions I was a little baffled by some of the theories. I didn’t really get an idea of the scale of the event, and how the nation was emotionally scarred by it. But having read the book, I was more aware of the sadness and grief of a nation. For me it was the love story that took centre stage to the conspiracy theory. However, I did like the ‘What if” scenario as it kept me intrigued.

A slight niggle were the chapter headings/statements; they felt a little bit too preachy. Almost steering me to read the chapter in a certain way, so influencing how I reacted to the events that occurred. Also there was a bit of repetition in dialogue and narrative. All very minor things that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story.

The narrative voice is engaging and believable, which is a huge plus for me. Without that, the rest of the narrative and plausibility of the plotline would have been lost, so I applaud Elizabeth Horton-Newton for her writing skill.

I think this book is a great read and would appeal to readers on many levels. Highly recommended.

A View from the Sixth Floor--Could This Be Possible?

12/11/2015

5.0 out of 5 starsle?
By Patricia A. Guthrie on December 8, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition
View from the Sixth Floor: An Oswald Tale
By Elizabeth Horton Newton
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy has fascinated for over fifty years. Numerous books, movies and documentaries have searched for the truth. Was it a conspiracy or the hand of a lone gunman that killed the president and wounded the Governor? Did Lee Harvey Oswald kill the president? Why was he shot by Jack Ruby? Why was there such collateral damage in the aftermath?
But—what if Lee Harvey Oswald didn’t kill the president? What if Lee Harvey Oswald didn’t die from his wounds? And, what if he was living next to you for years?
That is the premise that Ms Newton presents to us in her book “View from the Sixth Floor.”
When Olivia loses her husband to a heart attack, his best friend and neighbor Bill watches over Olivia and becomes her best friend. Olivia has long been fascinated by the Kennedy assassination and when she has too much time on her hands decides to visit Dallas to see the museum and the places where he was killed. Her two boys try to talk her out of it as does Bill. “Don’t go back into the past.” But, Olivia is determine and that’s when Bill decides to go with her.
And that’s when the plot gets thick with twists, turns, mystery, espionage old murders and a couple who throw themselves under the bus to try to get information. But, little does Olivia know, Bill knows the truth. It’s only him that can get the information to the world. But, it’s the world that’s trying to get to him as well. Olivia gets caught up with a fascinating assumption and a life she’d never dreamed would happen to her.
There are some editing and formatting flaws (which I’ve noticed in all E Books) The writing is good and keeps you focused. But the story itself is great. This book will put you at the edge of your seat and not let you go until you’ve finished. Even then, you’ll want to know more.
Good going Elizabeth Horton Newton. If there were sixth stars I give them to you.

A story that burrows deep inside

12/11/2015

5.0 out of 5 stars
By CMT Stibbe on December 6, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
View From The Sixth Floor: An Oswald Tale is one of the most fascinating books I’ve read this year. For those who love romance, mystery and alternate history, this is the book for you. Dedicated to both President John F. Kennedy and Lee Harvey Oswald, it’s a story that burrows deep inside and presents the intrepid widow, Olivia (Livvy), whose iron will makes her more than worthy of the task ahead.

I think one of the most poignant visuals I have of this book is Livvy watching the snow fall over the ice rink in front of the British Museum. “I can’t say I was lonely. I can’t say I wasn’t lonely. I guessed I was in a sort of limbo.” At this point, I had that belly-tingling feeling this story was going exceptional. The writing style is personal and although I’ve never been a fan of first person, this book has changed my mind.

As we rewind to the beginning - to an old Victorian house in the Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina - it’s the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination and words like “Did Oswald Act Alone?” have become a mantra in the streets. Assassination theories on the TV, an unfamiliar car in the street, Bill’s rising anxiety and a hang-up call on the house phone provide the catalyst to a new adventure. Livvy’s fascination to relive history is further whetted by two young man canvassing the neighborhood on the pretext of offering special deals on security systems. It was warp speed ahead after that.

As special agents speak into their cuffs and play cat and mouse, you can’t help rooting for Livvy. At least twice, I almost jumped up out of my chair and shouted YOU GO GIRL! Livvy is a determined character, armed with healthy traces of skepticism. She has great charisma and that’s what drew me to her.

If I could describe the pace, it would be fast. I hated every distraction that came my way because it forced me to put away such a compelling journey for a time. For me, it’s a curl-up-in-bed book, an evening-by-the-fire book, a just about every-occasion book. A deeply satisfying book about a friendship bursting with devotion and an ending that quite simply blew my socks off!