Woman of the Hour by Jane Lythell @janelythell

Woman of the Hour was published in 2016 by Head of Zeus. My thanks to the author and the publisher for the review copy.

Meet Liz Lyon: respected TV producer, stressed-out executive, guilty single mother.

StoryWorld is the nation's favourite morning show, and producer Liz Lyon wants to keep it that way. Her job is to turn real-life stories into thrilling TV – and keep a lid on the scandals and backbiting that happen off-stage.

But then simmering tensions erupt at the station, trapping Liz in a game of one-upmanship where she doesn't know the rules. As the power struggle intensifies, can Liz keep her cool and keep her job? Does she even want to?

In this gripping novel of power, rivalry and betrayal, Jane Lythell draws on her experiences of working in the glamorous, pressurised world of live TV.

My Thoughts:

Woman of the Hour is a behind the scenes look at a TV Station. All of the pressures, power struggles and petty rivalries are laid bare in this entertaining and absorbing novel. 

Liz Lyon is pretty much at the top of her game, having worked her way up at Storyworld, she manages to hold down a demanding job on top of being a single Mum to her teenage daughter Flo. I take my hat off to her! 

I believe that this book is the first in a series and I will be delighted to find out more about our delightful cast of characters in future. The characters are all unique and some are more likeable than others. All have there own pressures behind the Storyworld set. The youngsters are trying to make their way in the new world of television and hoping for their big break. The more established members of staff are battling to keep their jobs in the midst of budget cuts and more. The boss is demanding, often unreasonable and clearly on a power trip. 

This book is a fantastic look at workplace tensions and problems that can arise in such a pressurised environment. Sexual harassment forms part of the story and also the point is made that a job in television is not always as glamorous as it sounds. 

As a reader you feel the various workplace tensions building throughout the book, everything is about to blow apart and all of the pressure seems to be on Liz. Can she restore harmony? 

I found this book to be an interesting and highly entertaining read and will be looking forward to reading more about Storyworld and from this host of fascinating characters and egos in the future. 

About the Author:

Jane Lythell worked as a TV Producer for fifteen years. This has provided much of the inspiration for Woman of the Hour. She lives in Brighton. She has also written two other novels, After the Storm and The Lie of You. She has also worked at the British Film Institute, BAFTA and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. She now writes full time.

You can find Jane here:

Twitter: @janelythell 
Facebook: Jane Lythell Author
Instagram: jane_lythell_writer
My blog: http://chroniclesofchloegreene.blogspot.co.uk/