Customer Reviews

Village Green Affair

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This book obviously starts well into a long series set around the village of Turnham Malpas and its inhabitants and ends on a complete cliffhanger. Seemingly devoted wife and mother, Liz Neal who has been married to shady and ruthless accountant Neville Neal for twenty five years,is disliking him and his nasty ways to a point where it's nearly hatred. A monthly fair is set up on the village green and its organiser, Titus Bellamy faces stern opposition to anything which changes the ways of the village. Titus and Liz fall in love at first sight, a fact which doesn't escape the notice of the villagers, but, in their sublime first flush of love, the pair ignores the scandal and plan on spending their lives together. Fate steps in and changes everyone's plans so now I'm waiting to see what happens next. It's pleasant, quiet read which lovers of village life books will adore.

Neville and Liz have been married for decades, but the spark went out long ago. When a new comer arrives in their quiet English village, Liz feels an immediate attraction. To combat the cracks rapidly forming in their marriage, Neal consults the local parson, Peter Harris, for advice. Meanwhile, the rest of the village is in uproar over the newcomer's presence - he runs a local market which is bringing outside elements, including crime, into their area.

Quote: "'No, you go upstairs. I'll do this.' He rather imagined that was something Peter would say and congratulated himself, then added 'loving contact' by patting her shoulder before collecting their cups together."

This book is the most recent in a long series about life in an English village that I typically really enjoy. However, by book 13 it really begins to feel like the author has run out of ideas and has now just turned to rehashing conflicts and issues from previous novels. We have the marriage going south, the affair, the outsider bringing new ideas into the village, the *surprise* death. It all gets a little been there, done that. I still think the series is worth reading, I just hope that the next installment, if there is one, has a little more life to it.

Rebecca Shaw makes us want to live in Turnham Malpas where life revolves around the church and the village store. It was nice to spend time with these "friends" again. I eagerly await January's volume 14!