A Review of Black-Eyed Devils by Catrin Collier

A Tale of Forbidden Love From the Quick Read Series 2009

Mar 25, 2009

1917 and the turmoil of a striking mining community in Wales provides a dramatic backdrop for this historical love story.

The Plot

Black - Eyed Devils is set in a Welsh mining town in 1917. The miners are on strike for a decent wage. Jim Watkins is one of the strike leaders and his family are supporting him. Food is short and the Watkins family are not alone in their struggles to survive.

Amy Watkins has been working hard in the soup kitchen, but her life is thrown upside down by the arrival of the tall dark handsome stranger from Ireland. Tom Kelly is the nephew of the local priest but his presence in the town is not quite what it seems.

The Characters

The strikingly beautiful Amy Watkins is one of a strong cast of characters in this book. She’s torn between loyalty to her family and the miners’ troubles and the overwhelming love she rapidly develops for Tom Kelly.

Her older brothers are digging illegally in the mine and her mother Mary is trying to cope with the lack of food for them and Amy’s younger siblings. Amy’s parents, Mary and Jim, are suspicious of Tom and his motives and they are not the only ones. Before long the police have their eye on Tom and he becomes a wanted man.

Tom’s uncle Father Kelly is torn between loyalty to his parishioners and his nephew. Luckily, the Watkins’ neighbour Enyd is on hand to support the family of her oldest friend. Her desire to fulfil Amy’s dreams leads to some drastic action, and the situation is resolved.

Hard to put down?

This is a dramatic story set in a traditional time; both men and women are strong, but within the perceived constraints of their gender. There are undercurrents of tension throughout the book which keeps the pace moving. The police patrol the town looking for illegal digging on the mountainside. The miners in turn deal out their own form of punishment to the blacklegs who cross the picket line.

There is a twist to the tale. This gradually emerges and serves to soften the story and provide the backdrop for the ending. Readers are left feeling relieved, with a residual curiosity in what the future holds for Amy and Tom.

About the Author

Catrin Collier has published 20 historical novels and 8 crime novels (as ‘Katherine John’). Her first historical novel Hearts of Gold was made into a BBC series. She lives in Wales.

Quick Reads series

Quick reads are aimed at people who’ve either lost or never developed their reading habit or just want simply that, a quick read. They are short, often only about 100 pages long, and are written in an accessible and appealing style.

There are 32 books in the series including ten published 5 March 2009 to coincide with World Book Day. Learning resources are provided to develop reading skills.