Jacqui's first review

Published: 02-Mar-2022

Jacqui's first review: The Dressmakers of Yarrandarrah Prison by Meredith Jaffé

The Dressmakers of Yarandarrah Prsion

“The Dressmakers of Yarrandarrah Prison”  by Meredith Jaffé

Have you ever read a book that you are loving so much that you don’t want it to end but loving it so much you want to see what happens at the end?  “The Dressmakers of Yarrandarrah Prison” was that book for me.

Made up of a cast of many complex characters, there are plenty to get close to or even to dislike intensely.

Derek, the main character, is part of an outreach group called Backtackers. The group meet weekly to sew and are led by Jane Watts, an outsider from Connecting Threads.  The group have lots of projects going on but Derek is desperate to come up with a gift for his estranged daughter Debbie’s wedding.

There begins the saga of the wedding dress…

Much happens along the way.  Happy things and sad.  Prison upheavals and outside interferences.

This book is sad and funny, gripping and beautiful.  It makes you catch your breath with fear one minute and chuckle with warmth and surprise the next.

Meredith Jaffé is a new author for me but I will be seeking her other books out in the hope that they too will be as much of a pleasure to read.