I've just reading finished Emma Batten's 'But First Maintain the Wall'. It's a beautifully constructed story, meticulously researched. Her description of the maintenance of the sea wall in the 18th century is fascinating, her characters are well drawn and she describes places atmospherically. Recommended reading.

I enjoyed this book. It was well written with a nice story. The historical background was nice, but did not get in the way of the story. I am looking forward to reading the author's other books.
Your novels are amazing...once I start one I can't put it down. They are excellent stories and give such a realistic feeling of life on the marsh all those years ago. Anyone who loves this unique area....enjoy Emma's books.

Have just finished reading What the Monk Didn't See. Kept me enthralled though the whole book. Thank you very much for writing it.

I absolutely love all of Emma's books, but I think Secrets of the shingle is my favourite. It was the first one I read...and that was it, I couldn't wait to read the next...and the next...and the next! Living in Willesborough, it is fascinating to have an insight into the past of the area, as well as Ashford, and The Marsh.
Fabulous books, which I constantly recommend to friends.

We highly recommend “But First Maintain the Wall” it is the sort of book that once you start reading you cannot put it down, we look forward to getting the others. Totally agree. Emma’s books are highly recommended. Especially But first maintain the wall. Difficult to put down...

I was privileged to read Emma Batten’s novel as she wrote it and found myself urging her to write the next section, so great was my desire to see how her characters developed. She creates a whole world in the forgotten outpost of Dungeness on the Romney Marsh, a place I happen to know well. She is true to the sinister atmosphere of the place while peopling it with vivid characters who interact with each other in dramatic ways. She widens her canvas by depicting the urban landscape of Newtown, Ashford, an emerging railway suburb. You will want to read on both to enjoy her vivid style of writing and to see how the characters ultimately achieve redemption in a hostile environment.

What The Monk Didn’t See’ is a really good read; definitely one of those books that it is difficult to put down. I liked the way the story line wove into what could well have been the circumstances for the community of Romney at the time of the Great Storm, something most people would tend not to think about. I also liked the way so many basic human emotions such love, desire, jealousy and hatred were covered.