The Yellow Room Conspiracy

Peter Dickenson

Paul Ackerly and Lucy Vereker Seddon are at the end of their lives now. But they were involved in a huge scandal known as the Seddon Affair. At the beginning of the book, a quick witted radio show brought up the 40-year-old scandal that both of the lovers heard. After comforting each other, they discover each had thought the other had killed Gerry Grantworth all those years ago. To discover their final feelings, and perhaps to devine what really happened, they both write their memoirs of their lives.

Lucy is one of five daughters of Blatchards and the most beautiful of them. Ackerly had gone to school at Eton with Grantworth and they meet again early in World War II as they are in training. Grantworth takes his friend to the house he loves and the family who captures his attention. Lucy develops a crush on Grantworth that re-emerges over the years.

They join the war effort. All three, in one way or another, end up in some aspect of espionage. After the war, Ackerly returns to his family business, Vereker stays with her company in their new civilian guise, and Grantworth returns to Blatchards and lives with the oldest daughter, Nan. As time progresses, their lives intersect, not only with each other, but with the other sisters and the men who marry the sisters at one time or another. By the time Grantworth is found dead, there are mysteries and scandals lurking under a surface of high society and respectability.

This book is superbly woven together. It is told in first person narrative by both Ackerly and Vereker (Paul and Lucy) in alternating chapters. It gives a picture of England after WWII and how one family's aristocratic lives change and falter in the new economy. It is a story of free love in a time when that was still kept secret. Despite the intracacies of the tale and surprises that await, I could not stay with this book easily. I was able to stay with the story, but could easily put it down and ignore it while doing other things. Overall it is a book I would recommend if someone were to mention it specifically, but wouldn't think of it if asked for books in general.

I found The Yellow Room Conspiracy at the library after we decided to read it as a group at The Reader's Place. It is currently out of print.