Away with the Penguins - Hazel Prior

Veronica McCreedy lives in a mansion by the sea. She loves a nice cup of Darjeeling tea whilst watching a good wildlife documentary.  And she’s never seen without her ruby-red lipstick, although these days Veronica is rarely seen by anyone because, at 85, her days are spent mostly at home, alone.


She can be found either collecting litter from the beach (‘people who litter the countryside should be shot’), trying to locate her glasses (‘someone must have moved them’) or shouting instructions to her assistant, Eileen (‘Eileen, door!’). Veronica doesn’t have family or friends nearby. Not that she knows about, anyway . . .  And she has no idea where she’s going to leave her considerable wealth when she dies.


But today . . . today Veronica is going to make a decision that will change all of this. She is going on an intrepid journey - to save the penguins.

My Review:


A delightful read that will tug on heart strings. I didn’t know what to expect at all but I was surprised by how emotional the book made me.


We are presented with such an interesting and completely unique character in Veronica. It took me a little while to get accustomed to her eccentricity; she is your typical cantankerous old woman who is determined and won’t let anything get in the way. Everything starts with the rediscovery of old diaries, from this we learn the sentimental, special story of Veronica and learn what made her become the stoic lady she is.


We learn of the losses she has endured, the hard times that she has lived through and was hardened by. I think this really cements our love for her and makes her journey to discovering friends and family even better.


Veronica stumbles upon a TV programme about penguins, and after learning about those who want to save them she starts to look at her own life and the lack of relationships within it. Veronica discovers a grandson, Patrick, who at first meeting is not interested in her and she most definitely is not impressed by him especially after he learns of her wealth.


When we meet Patrick he doesn’t have much going for him, he doesn’t like people and doesn’t seem bothered by that. I admit I was not at all fond of him at all. His boring life trundles on as we see Veronica’s head in a very interesting direction.


Veronica decides that she will leave her money to those researchers looking out for the penguins but first she will be going to stay with them, and of course this isn’t a request.

I loved the penguins. I’ve always quite liked them but now I think I’m a bit in love. How clever of this author to raise awareness through her work. This book is so well written, very engaging and I read this very quickly because I felt so involved with their adventures.

A very charming read that I recommend wholeheartedly.



HAZEL PRIOR lives on Exmoor. 

As well as writing, she works as a freelance harpist.

BLOGTOUR: Review of Ellie & The Harp - Hazel Prior

Purchase Here

Sometimes it takes a chance encounter to discover what your life could be like... 

Meet Ellie. She’s perfectly happy with her home and her husband and her quiet life. Happy enough, anyway. Which is why she’s so surprised to find herself drawn to an extraordinary stranger who gives her a gift - and a fresh perspective.
Meet Dan. He thinks all he needs to be happy is the time and space to carry on making harps. Sometimes people buy them, too. But the last thing he expects is for Ellie to walk into his life, a whirlwind with cherry-coloured socks, bringing a string of surprises into his ordered existence.

As Ellie and Dan get to know one another, they begin to see the world - and themselves - in an entirely new way...

 Perfect for fans of The Keeper of Lost Things and Three Things About Elsie

My Review:

This is a beautiful story that’s told in an incredibly well written and charming way. It’s a tale of finding friendship in unlikely places with unlikely people, a story of looking past your initial conceptions and in following your own path, even trying something new.  Hazel Prior is very descriptive, whether it’s about the characters, the places etc. and I think it just adds to the story and especially lends well to Dan’s character and the way he thinks.

I adored Dan. What a fantastic character! I love a book that gives us both main characters POV and I enjoyed the insight in to what went through his mind as we progressed through the story – how he dealt with occurrences beyond what he was used to, how he evolved and handled what was out of his control.  Dan’s character was explored well, his personality and traits that make him such an intriguing and beguiling character.  The type of character that you don’t see often.

Ellie is interesting, someone that is looking for more than she has but doesn’t necessarily know what it is she is looking for. She is a simple soul, who enjoys writing poetry and feeling at one with nature walking the Exmoor Country. She is seeking something to comfort her losses, give her a purpose that is truly hers. Her husband Clive is controlling, overbearing and far from what Ellie needs, didn’t like him from the moment he made her return the harp at the beginning of the book.

This is a beautiful debut novel, as you read you get a clear sense of the authors love for the subject – for the angelic sounding harps, which were described so poetically.  As I read of a blossoming friendship for these two individual souls, I had a sense of trouble looming for both Dan and Ellie but as tragedy unfolds, it isn’t over the top, over dramatised or sensationalised, it remained in keeping with the style in which Hazel Prior had created.

Ellie and the Harp Maker is such a sweet and simple story, a special read that leaves you with a warm feeling, just like a cosy hug. A real treat to read and one I recommend highly.

Thank you to Anne Cater, Hazel Prior and Penguin RandomHouse for the opportunity to read and review this book, and for the chance to take part in this blog tour.  

Hazel Prior lives on Exmoor with her husband and a huge ginger cat.

As well as writing, she works as a harpist. You can find Hazel at @HaveAHarp. #EllieandtheHarpmaker