Webster Family Books in Order

The Webster Family books are a three-part historical saga that follows one London family across decades of upheaval, from prewar poverty to the uneasy freedoms of the 1960s. The story begins in Bermondsey, moves through the Second World War, and ends with a younger generation trying to claim a future of its own. If you like family sagas that stay close to ordinary lives, this series does exactly that.

The first book, The Open Door, later reissued as The Winter Child, introduces Rose Webster as a bright, determined girl growing up in real hardship. She lives in the slums, has to cope with a violent stepfather, and learns early that talent and hard work do not always open doors for a poor child. What makes Rose such a strong centre for the trilogy is that she never stops wanting more, not only for herself, but for the people she loves. Her story gives the whole series its backbone.

It starts in the slums and never forgets them.

The second book, Wings of the Morning, later The Spitfire Sweetheart, shifts to Annie Webster and the war years. By then the family has reached a more stable chapter, but that security is fragile. Annie's brothers enlist, her sweetheart becomes a pilot, and Annie herself joins the WAAF. The scale grows larger here, with wartime duty, danger and separation shaping every decision, yet Matthews keeps the tension personal. The real questions are about home, grief, courage and what happens to love when nobody can promise tomorrow.

Family is the thread that holds everything together.

The final book, A Time of Peace, later reissued as Her Mother's Daughter, follows Kate Freeman, Rose's daughter, as she heads to London in 1960 hoping to become a photographer. This gives the trilogy a fresh perspective. The war is over, but peace does not mean life becomes simple. Kate still has to work out who she is, what kind of life she wants, and how much she can ask from the people around her. The book keeps the family focus, but it also opens up questions about ambition, independence and the push and pull between mothers and daughters.

What links all three books is tone. These are warm, grounded stories with strong-willed women at the centre, plenty of heartbreak, and a steady belief that people can keep going even after terrible setbacks. Matthews is interested in the way history lands in kitchens, boarding houses, offices and service uniforms, not just in headlines. If you want a trilogy that covers several generations without losing sight of the people at its heart, the Webster Family books are a very good place to settle in.