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Dear Beneficiary
A sexy, adventurous farce about a 60-year-old widow who travels to Nigeria to find out the truth about an email scam, and her 38-year-old lover Cynthia Hartworth is a feisty 60-year-old who, despite strong convictions that she has everything in her life under control, discovers the modern world isn’t always as it seems. Widowed in her late 50s after a lifetime of dutiful, but dull, marriage, she decides that life is for living and she takes on a number of activities with enthusiasm and energy—to the distress and discomfort of her family. She embarks on a passionate affair with Darius, a 38-year-old Nigerian man she met at driving school, and is subsequently heartbroken when he has to return to Nigeria to tend to his sick parents, ending their relationship. Cynthia’s grandson, Tom, helps her connect to the Internet in her bid to try and contact Darius. When she receives an email message asking for her bank details to help a friend who needs medical help, she assumes Darius is asking for her support. Because of her naivety and stoic resistance to warnings that she needs to be careful about communicating via email, she ends up traveling to Nigeria where she meets some very interesting people—including her kidnapper; the crass and vulgar Tracey, with whom she develops an unlikely friendship; and finally her former lover.
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 28, 2015
There can't be many of us who haven't received one of those emails, you know the one that starts with 'Dear Beneficiary', and goes on to inform us that we are due to inherit a small fortune from our long-lost great Uncle Cedric, who recently died in Nigeria. All we have to do is kindly send over the details of our bank account, and our new found wealth will magically appear in our bank accounts.
Yeah, right! That's what most of us will think as we hit the delete button, yet again. Not Cynthia though. Cynthia has recently entered the world of the interweb with the help of her grandson Tom, she's also recently had a torrid affair with a much younger and very enthusiastic Nigerian bloke called Darius. Darius had to return home to help out with his ailing mother, and Cynthia is desperate to see him again. She's pretty desperate altogether really as Darius showed her things, and awakened parts of her body that her poor dead husband Colin who she slept with for forty years never once found!
Cynthia would rather not talk to her children about Darius and is tired of her bank manager's concerns about suspicious transactions on her account. The only thing for it is to travel to Nigeria herself, to make sure that Darius is OK, and to await her good fortune.
Once in Nigeria, Cynthia and her unlikely travel companion Tracey find themselves caught up in the world of scammers. Tracey, like Cynthia, has travelled to Africa because of a man, and that is all they have in common. Bleached blonde hair, nail extensions and faked tanned; Tracey is unlike anyone that Cynthia has ever had to speak to before. So far away from the world of Bridge Clubs and Waitrose, and oh so common. Despite this, they become room mates, but not by choice.
Janet Kelly writes cleverly, her story is witty and touching, and her characters ooze exuberance and cheer, despite finding themselves in a situation that would scare the pants off most women. Cynthia is a terrible snob, she looks down on most people and whilst her honesty is funny and quite touching, it's clear that it's more of a cross between stupidity and ignorance, rather than a belief in speaking her own mind. It is their combined low intelligence and gullibility that allows Cynthia and Tracey to survive their ordeal intact. Both of them are great manipulators, they have some awareness of their ability to beguile their captors and make good use of these.
Dear Beneficiary is more than just a comedic story of two aging women who are trying to find happiness. It is more than a tale of innocence combined with hope. There is insight into the world of the Nigerian scammers and looks at why they choose to do what they do. There is a hint of darkness mixed in with the comedy, a little tease of violence and power and a feeling of helplessness from members of the scamming gang.
I snorted with laughter at times whilst reading Dear Beneficiary, in a most unladylike way; Cynthia would not have been impressed by me, although I suspect that Tracey would have joined me!
Dear Beneficiary is a warm and touching story, it has a real heart, with characters who have been so beautifully crafted that they jump from the pages and appear as real as your friends. I have such admiration for Janet Kelly, this debut is an absolute joy to read, a fabulous achievement.
Yeah, right! That's what most of us will think as we hit the delete button, yet again. Not Cynthia though. Cynthia has recently entered the world of the interweb with the help of her grandson Tom, she's also recently had a torrid affair with a much younger and very enthusiastic Nigerian bloke called Darius. Darius had to return home to help out with his ailing mother, and Cynthia is desperate to see him again. She's pretty desperate altogether really as Darius showed her things, and awakened parts of her body that her poor dead husband Colin who she slept with for forty years never once found!
Cynthia would rather not talk to her children about Darius and is tired of her bank manager's concerns about suspicious transactions on her account. The only thing for it is to travel to Nigeria herself, to make sure that Darius is OK, and to await her good fortune.
Once in Nigeria, Cynthia and her unlikely travel companion Tracey find themselves caught up in the world of scammers. Tracey, like Cynthia, has travelled to Africa because of a man, and that is all they have in common. Bleached blonde hair, nail extensions and faked tanned; Tracey is unlike anyone that Cynthia has ever had to speak to before. So far away from the world of Bridge Clubs and Waitrose, and oh so common. Despite this, they become room mates, but not by choice.
Janet Kelly writes cleverly, her story is witty and touching, and her characters ooze exuberance and cheer, despite finding themselves in a situation that would scare the pants off most women. Cynthia is a terrible snob, she looks down on most people and whilst her honesty is funny and quite touching, it's clear that it's more of a cross between stupidity and ignorance, rather than a belief in speaking her own mind. It is their combined low intelligence and gullibility that allows Cynthia and Tracey to survive their ordeal intact. Both of them are great manipulators, they have some awareness of their ability to beguile their captors and make good use of these.
Dear Beneficiary is more than just a comedic story of two aging women who are trying to find happiness. It is more than a tale of innocence combined with hope. There is insight into the world of the Nigerian scammers and looks at why they choose to do what they do. There is a hint of darkness mixed in with the comedy, a little tease of violence and power and a feeling of helplessness from members of the scamming gang.
I snorted with laughter at times whilst reading Dear Beneficiary, in a most unladylike way; Cynthia would not have been impressed by me, although I suspect that Tracey would have joined me!
Dear Beneficiary is a warm and touching story, it has a real heart, with characters who have been so beautifully crafted that they jump from the pages and appear as real as your friends. I have such admiration for Janet Kelly, this debut is an absolute joy to read, a fabulous achievement.
March 20, 2015
I won Janet Kelly's novel Dear Beneficiary through Goodreads First Reads Giveaways. Dear Beneficiary is the story of Cynthia Hartworth,a 60 year old widow, from Surrey. Cynthia travels to Nigeria in search of her new, much younger, love interest Darius. Cynthia's adventures in Nigeria aren't quite what she expects as along the way she is targeted by con men, kidnapped and also makes friends with several unusual characters. Dear Beneficiary is an entertaining, enjoyable read.
June 20, 2015
For a book about a retired older woman, it was way more raunchy than I was anticipating! But that honestly made it more enjoyable to read. The juxtaposition of an older woman with an exciting active love life embarking on a crazy adventure kept me on the edge of my seat. Anything that could go wrong, did, and I spent the whole book wondering what on earth was going to happen next.
The book left me caring about the characters, even the criminals. Nothing like an embroidering Nigerian kidnapper to tug at your heartstrings!
The blurb of "Best Exotic Marigold Hotel meets Last Tango in Halifax" was pretty much what persuaded me to buy it, and I wasn't let down.
Loved it. An easy fun read for any woman.
The book left me caring about the characters, even the criminals. Nothing like an embroidering Nigerian kidnapper to tug at your heartstrings!
The blurb of "Best Exotic Marigold Hotel meets Last Tango in Halifax" was pretty much what persuaded me to buy it, and I wasn't let down.
Loved it. An easy fun read for any woman.
March 21, 2015
This book is a very interesting look at a life after 60. A women that finds another love but is taken advantage of in a scam. She thinks it is all for her lover but in reality it is far worse. The book was so times funny and other times I was frustrated with the character in this book. I enjoyed I different type of book than I normally read. You should check it out! * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
March 8, 2015
Dear Beneficiary, by Janet Kelly, is a modern farce about a woman of a certain age. The protagonist, Cynthia, had been ‘diligently married’ for forty years and is now rather enjoying widowhood. A brief affair with a much younger Nigerian man showed her that sex could be enjoyed, a revelation to this very proper housewife from Surrey. Although she was saddened when he had to return to his country it was also something of a relief as keeping him a secret from her family had been tricky at times, once involving several hours spent in a wardrobe.
She decided that to engage in modern life she should get on line so turned to her grandson for help. Excited by ‘the prospect of his certainly solvent if not well-off relative being encouraged to buy the latest technology’ she soon found herself the owner of a top of the range PC and smart phone, neither of which she can operate.
Almost immediately she is taken in by a Nigerian 419 scam which empties her bank account. Convinced that the money has been used legitimately by her former lover she ignores her bank manager’s attempts to help and decides to travel to Lagos to sort the matter out for herself, with unfortunate results.
The strength of this story lies in the author’s ability to show Cynthia’s many sides.
In some ways she is the foolish old woman that her family see her as with her inability to drive safely or operate technology but a stubborn refusal to recognise her limitations. She understands how she is seen by her children so often chooses not to tell them what is happening in her life.
She is vain and arrogant, expressing disdain for those her own age with their hobbies and sagging bodies. She is happy to believe her hairdresser when she exclaims at how young Cynthia looks, feeling smug about her skincare routine and regular swims. She preens herself and seeks compliments, feeling annoyed when others regard her as old.
Despite her aging, middle class conceits Cynthia is still an individual and wishes to make use of her remaining years. Having escaped the dullness of her married life and discovered that sex can be enjoyed she wishes to seek out lovers, accepting advances as the starving may accept food.
Cynthia is determined not to grow old without a fight and this determination comes to the fore when, in the direst of circumstances, she is required to plan a daring escape. Convinced of her own superiority she is surprised to discover that her companion, who she regards as brash and vulgar, has her own hidden strengths. Together they form an unlikely alliance.
The characterisations in this book are amusing with enough wit and wisdom to entertain. Ludicrous though some of the situations seem (as they should in a farce) I suspect that readers may be inspired to consider their aging relatives and friends anew.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the author.
She decided that to engage in modern life she should get on line so turned to her grandson for help. Excited by ‘the prospect of his certainly solvent if not well-off relative being encouraged to buy the latest technology’ she soon found herself the owner of a top of the range PC and smart phone, neither of which she can operate.
Almost immediately she is taken in by a Nigerian 419 scam which empties her bank account. Convinced that the money has been used legitimately by her former lover she ignores her bank manager’s attempts to help and decides to travel to Lagos to sort the matter out for herself, with unfortunate results.
The strength of this story lies in the author’s ability to show Cynthia’s many sides.
In some ways she is the foolish old woman that her family see her as with her inability to drive safely or operate technology but a stubborn refusal to recognise her limitations. She understands how she is seen by her children so often chooses not to tell them what is happening in her life.
She is vain and arrogant, expressing disdain for those her own age with their hobbies and sagging bodies. She is happy to believe her hairdresser when she exclaims at how young Cynthia looks, feeling smug about her skincare routine and regular swims. She preens herself and seeks compliments, feeling annoyed when others regard her as old.
Despite her aging, middle class conceits Cynthia is still an individual and wishes to make use of her remaining years. Having escaped the dullness of her married life and discovered that sex can be enjoyed she wishes to seek out lovers, accepting advances as the starving may accept food.
Cynthia is determined not to grow old without a fight and this determination comes to the fore when, in the direst of circumstances, she is required to plan a daring escape. Convinced of her own superiority she is surprised to discover that her companion, who she regards as brash and vulgar, has her own hidden strengths. Together they form an unlikely alliance.
The characterisations in this book are amusing with enough wit and wisdom to entertain. Ludicrous though some of the situations seem (as they should in a farce) I suspect that readers may be inspired to consider their aging relatives and friends anew.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the author.
May 22, 2015
Review: Dear Beneficiary by Janet Kelly Publication Date: 19th March 2015
Publisher: Cutting Edge Press
ISBN: 978-1908122872
Source: Author provided ARC
Rating: 5*
Synopsis:
Cynthia Hartworth is a feisty 60-year-old who, despite strong convictions that she has everything in her life under control, discovers the modern world isn’t always as it seems. Widowed in her late 50s after a lifetime of dutiful, but dull, marriage, she decides that life is for living and she takes on a number of activities with enthusiasm and energy—to the distress and discomfort of her family.
She embarks on a passionate affair with Darius, a 38-year-old Nigerian man she met at driving school, and is subsequently heartbroken when he has to return to Nigeria to tend to his sick parents, ending their relationship. Cynthia’s grandson, Tom, helps her connect to the Internet in her bid to try and contact Darius.
When she receives an email message asking for her bank details to help a friend who needs medical help, she assumes Darius is asking for her support. Because of her naivety and stoic resistance to warnings that she needs to be careful about communicating via email, she ends up traveling to Nigeria where she meets some very interesting people—including her kidnapper; the crass and vulgar Tracey, with whom she develops an unlikely friendship; and finally her former lover.
My Review:
A well written and highly entertaining debut that's a real page turner. Lively and providing lots of laugh-out-loud moments, I warmed to Cynthia immediately and followed her journey with glee. Janet Kelly's beautifully descriptive prose brought her to life so well, I felt like I knew her.
An inspiration, perhaps, for the older lady to reach for more than just the mundane life.
**I received an ARC of this book from the author, in return for my honest review**
A special thank you to Janet Kelly:
Oh Janet, thank you so much for being kind enough to send me one of the first review copies of your debut novel. It's such a lively, entertaining book and I absolutely devoured it!
Publisher: Cutting Edge Press
ISBN: 978-1908122872
Source: Author provided ARC
Rating: 5*
Synopsis:
Cynthia Hartworth is a feisty 60-year-old who, despite strong convictions that she has everything in her life under control, discovers the modern world isn’t always as it seems. Widowed in her late 50s after a lifetime of dutiful, but dull, marriage, she decides that life is for living and she takes on a number of activities with enthusiasm and energy—to the distress and discomfort of her family.
She embarks on a passionate affair with Darius, a 38-year-old Nigerian man she met at driving school, and is subsequently heartbroken when he has to return to Nigeria to tend to his sick parents, ending their relationship. Cynthia’s grandson, Tom, helps her connect to the Internet in her bid to try and contact Darius.
When she receives an email message asking for her bank details to help a friend who needs medical help, she assumes Darius is asking for her support. Because of her naivety and stoic resistance to warnings that she needs to be careful about communicating via email, she ends up traveling to Nigeria where she meets some very interesting people—including her kidnapper; the crass and vulgar Tracey, with whom she develops an unlikely friendship; and finally her former lover.
My Review:
A well written and highly entertaining debut that's a real page turner. Lively and providing lots of laugh-out-loud moments, I warmed to Cynthia immediately and followed her journey with glee. Janet Kelly's beautifully descriptive prose brought her to life so well, I felt like I knew her.
An inspiration, perhaps, for the older lady to reach for more than just the mundane life.
**I received an ARC of this book from the author, in return for my honest review**
A special thank you to Janet Kelly:
Oh Janet, thank you so much for being kind enough to send me one of the first review copies of your debut novel. It's such a lively, entertaining book and I absolutely devoured it!
March 27, 2015
Dear Beneficiary is the story of Cynthia, a sixty year old widow who deals with the loss of her husband and her newly found freedom by having a steamy romance with a much younger Nigerian man. Cynthia is heart broken when Darius, her love interest, must return to Nigeria to help his family. Cynthia decides to enlist her grandson's help in purchasing and learning to use a computer in the hopes of communicating with Darius, but instead she receives a "Dear beneficiary" e-mail and falls prey to a scam from Nigerian con artists, mistakenly believing that she is helping her beloved Darius. Cynthia decides to travel to Nigeria. Cynthia and her fellow travel companion, an unlikeable woman named Tracey are lost and overwhelmed in the Nigerian airport and winds up being kidnapped. Although it is an engaging story, it did not feel believable. The author missed opportunities to really describe Nigeria and the experience that Cynthia had. At times it felt as if Cynthia was simply narrating her story and not really experiencing it. I never felt the terror or anger or frustration that I would expect from someone who is kidnapped. I really enjoyed the idea of Cynthia evaluating her life and deciding that perhaps she had been too safe, and her unexpected relationship with Darius. Overall it was a fun book, but the author missed some opportunities to make it really great.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
September 4, 2015
I thought this was going to be a fun read from the reviews I read, but no. Unnecessarily explicit and yawningly boring. I'm really strict and try to make myself finish books but I just couldn't bear to waste any more of my life on this drivel, so I stopped about a third of the way through and started a much better book from a favourite author.
March 19, 2015
A warm and at times hilarious story about aging. Enjoyed and laughed. I received this book through Goodreads.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews