The Bride That Time Forgot (Brenda & Effie Mystery #5)

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The Bride That Time Forgot (Brenda & Effie Mystery #5)

4.01 of 5 stars 4.01 · rating details · 88 ratings · 19 reviews

An outrageous adventure with the most terrifying villain Brenda has ever faced - her best friend, Effie.

Something is biting people on the streets of Whitby. In an ordinary town, this would be worrying. Here, it’s disastrous, and only Brenda has guessed why. She’s also trying to prepare for a packed festive break at her B&B, but her best friend Effie is in distracted mo...more

Paperback, 352 pages

Published October 2010 by Headline Review

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Jul 24, 2011 Michael Thomas rated it 3 of 5 stars

Paul Magrs, The Bride That Time Forgot. London: Headline Review, 2010. 341pp, paperback. £12.99. ISBN 978 0 7553 5944 8.

The Bride That Time Forgot belongs in a long, honourable tradition. Doom-laden goings on can be engrossing in themselves, but even more so, often, when placed right in the middle of the mundane. Both worlds can gain immeasurably by the interaction. Elm Street is a perfect harbour for nightmares precisely because of its picket-fenced babysitter schedules. Several of Wells’ scien...more Paul Magrs, The Bride That Time Forgot. London: Headline Review, 2010. 341pp, paperback. £12.99. ISBN 978 0 7553 5944 8.

The Bride That Time Forgot belongs in a long, honourable tradition. Doom-laden goings on can be engrossing in themselves, but even more so, often, when placed right in the middle of the mundane. Both worlds can gain immeasurably by the interaction. Elm Street is a perfect harbour for nightmares precisely because of its picket-fenced babysitter schedules. Several of Wells’ scientific romances draw the reader in because the scene of the action isn’t Planet XG499 but Bromley or Lewisham, because key characters are less likely to bark anxieties about a wayward flux capacitor, more likely to gasp ‘Blimey’ and ‘Strewth.’
Paul Magrs’ latest novel draws together the known and the feared in just this way. The setting is Whitby, the very name brimming with connotations of the undead, of Stoker, ghastly shipwreck, swaying coffins. But its narrator is Brenda, owner of a bijou little B&B, ‘open for business and filled up for fifty-two weeks of the year.’ As the novel progresses, Magrs’ Whitby itself fills up, with characters from this side of the life-death line, characters from the other, and characters with one foot in the light, one in the dark. This last category includes Brenda herself, who is given to drop little teases about her various adventures into the twilight zone, in between plumping guests’ pillows and getting in extra stocks of shower gel. We meet her friend Effie, sometime co-sleuth in her perilous adventures but now besotted with the sinister (and blood-hungry) Alucard; Robert, manager of the Hotel Miramar, who is set (in his own mind, anyway) to take Effie’s place on Brenda’s dark excursions; Marjory Staynes, proprietress of the Spooky Finger bookshop—and, through her, the (to Brenda, at least) disturbingly hovering presence of novelist Beatrice Mapp—and, through her, the Warrior Queen of Qab.
The ingredients, then, are all there for what other reviewers have noted as a glorious collision between Alan Bennett and The League of Gentlemen in Magrs’ work. Sadly, they don’t quite cohere. Strands are woven, hares set running. Brenda drops her hints that she isn’t a mere inhabitant of the daily round, thank you very much: her past is filled with to-dos in the unknown. After a certain point, however, a novel has to declare its hand: particular hints have to be taken up, confidently run with. Similarly, characters come onstage at a brisk rate, but it isn’t always easy to determine their relative importance to Brenda or each other—even when she seems to make it clear (which is a rather curious consequence in a piece of fiction). Overall, though there are bravura passages and some sense of climax and denouement, the narrative somehow doesn’t seem to know, at least not consistently, how it wants to be significant.
The reader can also be wrong-footed by inadvertent time-slips. At one point, Brenda heads for the Miramar Hotel on a quest to learn more about the life and works of Beatrice Mapp. She finds what she wants through the good offices of her friend Penny and the hotel internet. We are left in no doubt that it’s evening: a Sixties Night is in full swing, the soundtrack including ‘”Paper Sun” by the Small Faces’ (actually Traffic). Brenda asks Penny if she’ll bring the Beatrice Mapp information to the B&B:
Penny nods readily. ‘Yes, of course. And Robert and I are both free tonight.’
‘Very good. Seven o’clock. I think I’ll give Effie a ring.’
Immediately we wonder if this conversation is taking place much earlier. Or perhaps ‘Sixties Night’ is being used as a generic term for all-day frivolity. But no—Brenda is clear on the point: ‘Sunday evening I’m full of purpose and directing my feet towards the Miramar Hotel.’ It’s very tempting to say Such slips wouldn’t matter if…. But they do matter, and their occurrence raises questions about degree of structure and control in a whole narrative.
There is indeed entertainment to be had found in The Bride That Time Forgot, as well as some memorable characters (Gila, the loin-clothed scourge of vampires, comes to mind). That said, more tightening and polish—another go-round with the awful but vital blue pencil—would have guaranteed its appeal from start to finish.
Michael W. Thomas.

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Sep 30, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

The fifth book in Paul Magrs' brilliant 'Brenda and Effie' series follows straight on from the previous book, 'Hells Belles'. Effie has taken up with her fancy-man, the charming and dangerous Kristoff Alucard, and Brenda is worried. Vampires and Walkers are taking over the seaside town of Whitby, and a mysterious new bookshop has opened, luring in the women of the town with tales of the mysterious land of Qab. Once again it's up to Brenda and her gang of friends to save the day, travelling to a...more

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Oct 12, 2011 Brett rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The best yet out of the Brenda and Effie series. What seems to be just a comical series really leaves a lasting impression on you. After finishing the last book before this one, I had such withdrawals. Now I can feel the same thing happening after finishing this one. MORE PLEASE MR MAGRS!!!!

The story makes a full loop from Brenda's earlier life to present day and explains some of the bigger questions raised from the beginning of the series, like 'Why doesn't Brenda remember so much of her past?'...more

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Feb 05, 2011 Kate Millin rated it 5 of 5 stars

The best yet, and I am getting better at picking up the other literary references.

Necks are being bitten all over Whitby. In an ordinary town this would be worrying. Here it's disastrous, and only Brenda has guessed why. She's also trying to prepare for a packed festive season in her B & B, but her best friend Effie is in a distracted mood; she just hasn't been the same since her suave gentleman friend Alucard reappeared.

I have found it difficult to put down, and a very easy book to get bac...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Elizabeth (Miss Eliza) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: steampunk, summer_2012_reading_list, authors_i_have_met, vampires

Even in Whitby Brenda's life might be going to the bad. Sure there have been dangers before, but they've always found a way to have a punch up and be victorious. The return of Effie's fancy man Alucard might be the turning point. Because Brenda may be in denial about what this once and possibly still evil vampire has done to her best friend. She doesn't want to go accusing Alucard of turning Effie unless she is certain, and she sure doesn't want to be certain. Yet, there is no way of denying tha...more Even in Whitby Brenda's life might be going to the bad. Sure there have been dangers before, but they've always found a way to have a punch up and be victorious. The return of Effie's fancy man Alucard might be the turning point. Because Brenda may be in denial about what this once and possibly still evil vampire has done to her best friend. She doesn't want to go accusing Alucard of turning Effie unless she is certain, and she sure doesn't want to be certain. Yet, there is no way of denying that the vampire population in Whitby is on the rise... which brings Henry Cleavis back into Brenda's life. Brenda sure does have her trouble with men, either they're monsters, like her MIA husband, or monster hunters, like Henry.

If vampirism wasn't enough, there is a new bookshop in town, The Spooky Finger, run by an odd lady, Marjorie Staynes, who doesn't quite get that a book club should have a broad range of reading material, and instead focuses on the works of Mrs. Beatrice Mapp, an Edwardian writer, who placed the majority of her work in the fictional land of Qab, where men are subservient to women, which is the main draw for the book club. But the name Beatrice Mapp sparks something in Brenda's mind... what is her personal connection to Beatrice, and, on a side note, Marjorie's assistant and Robert's new plaything, Gila, looks suspicious like the subservient lizard race of Qab. Could Qab be real? Before long there are vampire attacks and portals to other places with tears in the very fabric of time, yet the strangest thing that happens is that Brenda willingly, if begrudgingly, takes the help of Mrs. Claus. Maybe that is the first sign that it's the end of days?

Qab. That land before time of garish colors where Jane Fonda from Barbarella wouldn't be incongruous. Qab was interesting, as was the Professor Challenger "Lost World" vibe. Yet, it felt wrong somehow. Spending so much time and energy on a place that's not the Whitby I know and love. This really pushed the series, not in a different way, but in a direction that, while logical, I wasn't that keen on embracing. My brother was always the "Land of the Lost" person in the family. He had the bad eighties posters of dinosaurs with mauve skies that would make your eyes water. I was never into this prehistoric or postapocalyptic man-eating Eden. Also, not to mention my nightmares of dinosaur dioramas from the Milwaukee County Museum, this volume just didn't grab me. We had just another creative medium that creates a vortex, like the previous installment and the film, Get They Inside Me, Satan. Personally, if I had to chose, a film would be a better vortex of evil than a book any day...

Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed the book and there where aspects that I loved. Effie finally going to the bad after all the hints and intimations, a book club that is really a cult. Because truly, if you think about it, I spent years trying to find a book club, and they're hard to break into, so, really, they are very much like a cult. I give Penny big props for getting on the inside, even if sometimes she started to believe the retoric. Mrs. Mapp and Bloomsbury! Adored this! I love that how Brenda describes Mrs. Mapp's writing, or more truthfully, her channeling of Qab. I knew something was up with her writing style, it was too much like Automatic Writing, where the writing is "produced from a subconscious, and/or external and/or spiritual source without conscious awareness of the content." I have always found Automatic Writing fascinating, and to have it in this book made me a little giddy, if truth be told. There where a few things that where left open ended, which I hope will be handled in the next book, mainly, the Limbosine and what happened to Leena.

Finally onto the nit picky. The switch back to first-person narrative was a bit jarring. It's not like this series hasn't utilized it, but since the third book we've been in third-person narration which made sense considering the expanding cast of characters and certain events that made Brenda unable to continue the narration herself. Here it seems to be occasionally forcing the narrative back on Brenda or Effie in her letters to Alucard, so that all news and events must filter through them and it's kind of awkward. Even more awkward is the fact that the book doesn't stay in first-person, but jumps back to third-person or vice versa, sometimes in the same chapter. The really really long chapters. I like third-person, it works for these books, even if we lose Brenda's voice, her voice is so strong now it can survive the change over from first-person.(less)

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Aug 25, 2011 Lucy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Well what to make of this book! a Christmas prezzie from Aunty Mary (Thanks Mary) It is a bizarre little book!
The main character is Brenda who is rather like a supernatural Miss Marple! she has her friends Robert Penny and her best friend Effie.
The book is set in Whitby, I love Whitby and as I was reading the book I could really envisage all that was going on, as the last time I was there it was a 'Goths' weekend, by that I don't mean sulky teenagers with too much black eyeliner, no, proper 'G...more

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Jun 01, 2011 Helen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: horror-humour, fiction, favorites

Never thought two old ladies would be my heroes. But they are. Brenda and Effie are just fab, and of course, not just your average ladies of a certain age. These books are funny, exciting, inventive and clever, and make me want to get back to Whitby more than ever. (Ooh, I rhymed inadvertently!)
I so hope they'll be having more adventures!

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Feb 28, 2013 C.L. Raven rated it 4 of 5 stars

We love Paul Magrs's books, they're quirky, funny and unusual, starring Brenda, the Bride of Frankenstein, who now runs a B & B in Whitby. She and her friend, Effie, who's from a long line of witches, are always getting into fights with various supernatural creatures.

We found this book hard to get in to at first 'cos it was written in journal format, whereas we're used to reading these books in first person POV, so the journal format felt almost disengaged to us. Effie's POV in the journal w...more

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May 04, 2011 JackieB rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, supernatural

These books are so funny. The two main characters are elderly ladies who have all of the likes and dislikes you would expect and then Paul Magrs sends them out to fight the forces of evil in Whitby in their own disrinctive style. The result is surreal but very funny.

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Nov 19, 2012 Jackie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Well, literary genius, it isn't. But it's a lighthearted romp through camp gothic. Fans and followers of the series will like this one. I thought the last one quite poor but I'm glad I gave Magrs the benefit of the doubt and gave this a chance.

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Apr 15, 2011 Tal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sf-fantasy

really liked this book, and i hope Mr Magrs will continue the series because OMG NEED BRENDA FIX!

i kindof want to meet Brenda and Effie in real life. that would be a million kinds of awesome.

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Aug 01, 2011 Alison rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

Well my first Vampire book and although amusing in some places I generally found it just a bit strange. Don;t like not finishing books though and it was readable but wouldn't really recommend it as the World's greatest read!

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Feb 18, 2012 Lou rated it 5 of 5 stars

God, how I love the Brenda and Effie books. I sincerely hope Paul Magrs writes more about them.

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Apr 15, 2011 Beth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Brilliant. I enjoyed every minute spent reading this book.

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May 09, 2012 Rachel Nowakowski rated it 5 of 5 stars

Another fab installment from Brenda and Effie. I still can't believe such a great book on female friendship is written by a guy. Kudos Mr Magrs!

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Nov 02, 2011 Karen Desmond rated it 4 of 5 stars

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Feb 24, 2011 Deanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: comedy

Makes me want to pack up and move to Whitby. Heard the fish and chips there are great, just wish you could still get them wrapped in newspaper.

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Aug 04, 2011 Leon added it

Read a couple of chapters already. I'm enjoying them v much. Tell you more when I finish more chapters

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Aug 01, 2012 Lynne - The Book Squirrel rated it 5 of 5 stars

So sad the series is ended now!

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May 14, 2013 Kazuki Isasuperabbit marked it as to-read

May 14, 2013 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 13, 2013 Sandra rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 13, 2013 Julia marked it as to-read

May 06, 2013 Rebekah Adams added it · review of another edition

Apr 28, 2013 Dawn Evans is currently reading it

Apr 27, 2013 Kirsten rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Apr 19, 2013 Stuart Douglas rated it 5 of 5 stars

Apr 11, 2013 Emma Price rated it 5 of 5 stars

Apr 11, 2013 Nicola rated it 5 of 5 stars

Apr 09, 2013 Nellie added it · review of another edition

Shelves: novels, au-fiction-is-real, urban-fantasy

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The Bride That Time Forgot (Brenda & Effie Mystery #5)

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