In this season of Village Fetes and celebrations I have a mixed bag to offer. All enjoyable in their own way.
Meet the Adults by Caroline Hulse is one to dry the mouth, and stifle a laugh at the mere thought. What were they thinking? To have Christmas ALL together… All? Ah A divorced couple, and their new ‘important person’, and their daughter and her imaginary friend, a rabbit called Posey.
The mind boggles, and it does well to do that. Do they all behave as adults, (except Scarlett, their daughter, and the rabbit of course)? Of course they d… No, I’ll stop right there.
Ah, but read this enjoyable romp, with shadows flickering with enough resonance to make the humour work. It a satisfying read. Incidentally, when does one become an adult? I’m still waiting but not with any urgency.
Meet The Adults by Caroline Hulse Pub Orion HB £14.99
Gallows Court by Martin Edwards
Set in 1930, London: an enigmatic heiress, a family secret and the thirst for justice.
Lots of twists and turned in this well imagined and inventive novel which includes a headless corpse, perhaps a suicide (but is it really?) and a man burned alive during an illusionist’s show witnessed by thousands. These and other murders are racing across the city, and at the heart of it all a mysterious heiress Rachel Savernake (now that’s a name to conjure with). What are Scotland Yard to make of it?
Then there’s Jacob the nosey journalist…
A fabulously ripping yarn, with no time to draw breath as Edward’s zips us through his evocative world. This is a novel plotted to perfection. Clever, clever. Loved it.
Gallows Court by Martin Edwards pub Head of Zeus. £18.99
The Governess Game by Tessa Dare
Anyone like Georgette Heyer? I read her when growing up and here is Tessa Dare picking up her mantle with a snappy snippy novel of a governess who takes charge of two out of control orphans who need discipline, or do they? Perhaps it’s love and attention they crave and need? But how is our heroine, Alexandra Mountbatten to reach out to their guardian who transpires to be far too dishy, without her heart being damaged. But by heavens, she’s going to try because this monument to ‘without commitment’ Chase Reynaud needs much the same as his wards. Love.
Good fun, a romp, you’ll laugh.
The Governess Game by Tessa Dare Mills and Boon pb £7.99
The Narrowboat Girls by Rosie Archer
Seems that canals are the thing at the moment. First Milly Adams with her successful Waterway Girls series which Frost Magazine loved, and now Rosie Archer with The Narrowboat Girls has jumped on deck, or counter as the boaters call it and landed well, which is no surprise.
Three girls, Elsie, Dorothy and Tolly pitch in as the war is hopefully drawing to a close and carry war supplies to where they need to be – doing their bit. They toil relentlessly along the canals with their narrowboat and butty and wonder if this new world, and tough job will kick their personal problems into the bank and allow them to start afresh.
Ah read and see. The various ‘Girls’ and their ilk ‘series’ seem to be running and running at the moment, and why not. At a literary festival panel I was chairing I asked the audience which they preferred, one-off sagas, or a series. The majority went with a series. So there your go. Read and enjoy.
The Narrowboat Girls by Rosie Archer. Quercus pb £6.99