The Scandalous Life Of Ruby Devereaux by M.J. Robotham

 

The Scandalous Life of Ruby Devereaux by M.J. Robotham.

Published 11th April 2024 by Aria, Head of Zeus.

From the cover of the book:

Everyone knows Ruby Devereaux's books. But no one knows her story... until now.

From a teenager in wartime England to a veteran of modern-day London - via 1950's New York, the Swinging Sixties, Cold War Berlin, Venice and Vietnam - Ruby Devereaux has lived one hell of a life: parties, scandals and conflict zones, meeting men and adventure along the way. In a writing career spanning seven decades and more than twenty books, she's distilled everything into her work. Or has she?

Now beyond her 90th year, Ruby's energy is ebbing and her beloved typewriter put away. Until a call from her publisher presents Ruby with an ultimatum, and the impetus to embark on one last book - "warts and all", as she says. Even in her dotage, Ruby M Devereaux has the power to surprise, because whatever this author does, she does on her own terms. Always.

Is Ruby finally about to reveal the secrets of her infamous life?

***********

Infamous author Ruby Devereaux, now in her nineties, takes on the obligation of writing one more book for her publisher. This time, rather than drawing on her exploits to write fiction, this will be an honest portrayal of her own life. Armed with an eager young assistant, courtesy of her agent, Ruby begins to tell her story in her own inimitable style...

Author, M.J. Robotham does a brilliant job channelling her creation, Ruby Devereaux, to spin a fictional memoir of a quite remarkable woman. Beginning in wartime England with Ruby's teenage sexual awakening and the birth of her career as a published author, Robotham proceeds to anchor you in time and place at each stage of Ruby's life, taking you on a tour of international proportions - via glamourous 1950s New York; La Dolce Vita Venice; Cold War Berlin; Vietnam; and behind-the-Iron-Curtain Budapest; with various momentous stops back home in the land of her birth.

The story unfurls with sections of Ruby's memoir in chronological order, linked together by occasional brief scenes that give you a glimpse of her writing process, or from the illuminating point of view of her agent, Marina. But what makes this so original is the unconventional way Ruby tells her story, through her interactions with the twelve men in her life who she has loved, lost, learned life lessons from, and who have provided inspiration for her novels.

Ruby is a force of nature who springs vividly from the page. Her character is driven by the conviction that you should seize the moment, and you cannot help but fall in love with her as she lays herself bare through her reflections on her globetrotting adventures. There is plenty of drama set against the backdrop of many of the significant moments of the second half of the twentieth century, and this combines beautifully with the emotional aspects of Ruby's story. In the telling, Robotham delves deep into different facets of romance; the highs and lows of relationships; family dynamics; ambition; motherhood; grief; loneliness; alienation; and mental health; tugging mercilessly on your heart-strings - and she serves up a powerful side order of the horrors of war and the grip of addiction too. 

Intriguingly, at no time does this feel like a book steeped in doom and gloom, despite the poignant places Robotham takes you to. Yes, there are tears (have the tissues handy), but this book is enormous fun too, packed to the gills with warmth and well judged humour that will have you chuckling to yourself often - especially when it comes to Ruby's irreverent personality, and the sheer enjoyment of being alongside her as she immerses herself in everything life has to offer. I easily blasted through this engaging book in a matter of hours, and thoroughly enjoyed every single moment spent with Ruby Devereaux.

The Scandalous Life of Ruby Devereaux is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Head of Zeus for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

M.J. Robotham saw herself as an aspiring author from the age of nine, but was waylaid by journalism, birth, children and life. After twenty years as a midwife, she is now a full-time author, writing historical fiction as Mandy Robotham, She lives in Gloucestershire with her partner and muse mutt, Basil.