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Book Review - By Your Side By Ruth Jones

 


By Your Side By Ruth Jones

Genre - Women's Fiction
My Rating - ★★★★★

I had the incredible chance to dive into an advance copy of Ruth Jones's, By Your side, thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers.

Due to be released on 22nd May 2025

 This is the third book that I have read by Ruth Jones and it really did not disappoint.

 

Synopsis

Linda and Levi will never meet. But they’re going to change each other’s lives.

In her role at the council’s Unclaimed Heirs Unit, Linda Standish investigates the lives of those who’ve died alone and tracks down any living relatives. She’s been a friend to the friendless for the past thirty-three years. And now she’s looking forward to an early retirement.

But before she hangs up her lanyard, Linda takes on one last case – that of Levi Norman – a Welshman who made his home on a remote Scottish island for the past five years.

What brought Levi here? And who did he leave behind? Obliged to travel (by hearse) with her arch nemesis Fergus Murray, and helped (and hindered) by local residents, Linda searches for clues to a life now lost. And in the process unexpectedly makes new friends, and discovers things about herself she never knew.

 

My Review

What a compelling, emotional yet heart-warming story of love, family relationships, life struggles and community spirit. It had me living in Linda’s shoes from start to finish. With characters that were realistic and relatable, it had me gripped. I struggled to put it down, read it within 24 hours and just needed to find out, who was Levi Norman, did Linda manage to solve the case, was there a happy ever after for Linda and Brodie?

Ruth wrote this book in such an empathetic way. She gave me a real mix of emotions from smirking at the antics to shedding a tear at the heart wrenching situations.

I think this book may stay with me for a while yet!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this advance copy.

 

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