No One Would Do What The Lamberts Have Done - Sophie Hannah
The title and author’s name over a courtyard of houses, possibly converted from a farm or something similar. There is a wooden gate in the foreground and the centre house has a light on in an upstairs window.
No One Would Do What The Lamberts Have Done by Sophie Hannah is set to be published by Bedford Square Publishers on the 19th June 2025.
3 Stars.
The sleepy village of Swaffham Tilney is the home to many rivalries, controversies and disputes. There's the infamous Agatha Christie Book Club incident, local entrepreneur Corinne Sullivan’s weed-covered front wall and the new timetable policy for swimming at the local Field View Health Club. But none is more prolific than the rivalry between the Lamberts and the Gaveys.
Sally Lambert is a doting wife to Mark, and mother to Ree, Toby, Champ (a Welsh Terrier) and Furbert (a late Welsh Terrier). She prides herself on ‘enjollify-ing’ the lives of those around her, especially her family, of which her current and deceased dogs are an integral part, seen as members in their own right.
When a police officer comes to the Lamberts' door, everything changes. Tess Gavey, daughter of Sally's sworn enemy ? Gavey, has been bitten, and is accusing Champ. Sally is appalled, and adamant that Champ is innocent, and that the Gavey’s are launching a campaign against her to have Champ put down. Will she be able to protect Champ, and her family? Are the Gaveys as bad as they appear?
The book also deals with a manuscript about the incident and its aftermath, written by an author whose identity is of much contention.
I was drawn to this book as two of Hannah's previous books, Haven't They Grown and her entry for the 2015 QuickReads scheme Pictures or It Didn't Happen are two of the best thriller/crime books I have read in recent years. This book doesn't quite reach the same heights as these two, especially Haven't They Grown, but is very enjoyable. I can't think of another writer who could make a dog bite into such a compelling thriller, although it soon becomes clear the dog bite (real or fake) is just the tip of the iceberg.
I say in a lot of these reviews that I have ‘devoured’ books but I really don't remember the last time I read a book as quickly as I read this one. It's definitely easy to read, and a compulsive read, especially considering I was initially quite daunted by the 400+ page count. I couldn't help but feel that the ending doesn't quite live up to the novel’s initial promise, however.
I think there is a fairly good balance in the manuscript aspects of the novel to make it difficult to know whether we should trust the Lambert family or not, let alone like them. It feels, generally, like we should due to their personalities and the fact that they want to protect their pet. It soon seems that they might not be as likable as they appear (even before the manuscript's authenticity and the identity of its author are drawn into question, especially considering how much different members love bigots like Hillsong Church and Ricky Gervais, as well as the political moments in the manuscript (courtesy of The Daily Telegraph, Corinne and Mark). These feel unnecessary in the first instance but become important in these questions of authorial identity.
A largely inventive and intriguing thriller that is incredibly enjoyable to read, if a little underwhelming in places, No One Would Do What The Lamberts Have Done doesn't always reach the heights it tries to but is worth a read nonetheless even just for trying to reach them. It's also a fun and enjoyable read.
