Whispers In The Village

Tales from Turnham Malpas #11

by Rebecca Shaw

When the rector, Peter, and his wife Caroline, decide to go to Africa for a year to work in a mission, they take their twins with them. The village inhabitants whose lives revolve around the church and this family are bereft. They don't immediately take to the woman locum, Anna, who has modern ideas - happy clappy hymns and so forth - but she does fill the church with parishioners determined to keep an eye on her. And then she brings Paddy, a down and out petty thief, into their midst. He lives at the Rectory and there is speculation as to whose bed he shares. However, Anna is smitten by someone else, but he is a married man. The Women's Institute comes up with the idea of raising funds for Peter's Mission. There's an upmarket pyjama party, a hair dyeing competition, midnight skinny dipping and an afternoon at the Big House watching horse racing at Longchamps on a huge screen, drinking champagne, with more race money than they dreamed of riding on a horse called Major Malpas. Peter keeps in touch with the people of Turnham Malpas by email.When a message arrives to tell them that the twins have been kidnapped they are devastated and are more determined than ever to raise a substantial sum for Peter's Mission. Once again Rebecca Shaw has given us a hugely readable and enjoyable novel. She is a master at mixing pathos with humour and the excitement she instils in this engaging story makes it one of her very best.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Hardcover

First published March 3, 2005

About the author

Sunday Times bestselling author Rebecca Shaw is known for her heartwarming tales of country life.
Rebecca grew up in Yorkshire and attended a Quaker boarding school before becoming a teacher of deaf children.
She wrote 28 novels. Her biggest series of 19 books set in a fictional English village called TURNHAM MALPAS chart the lives and loves of the village inhabitants.
A further six novels tell the stories of the vets, veterinary nurses and animals at a veterinary practice in the fictional English market town of BARLEYBRIDGE.
She also wrote three standalone novels.
Rebecca lived with her husband in a beautiful Dorset village where she found plenty of inspiration for her contemporary stories about rural life. Rebecca sadly passed away in 2015, but her stories continue to be enjoyed by readers across the globe.
Rebecca has been translated and sold in Denmark, Germany, Hungary and Norway. She is also published in the US.

Reviews

[Aimee Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Turnham Malpas series and this was no disappointment! I read it incredibly quickly.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, that was weird. So, do the church ladies in England really have naked fundraisers? Is this a thing. 'Cause, I asked the ladies at an ECW (Episcopal Church Women) meeting tonight if they'd ever consider that and I got LOTS of disbelieving laughter!

[Michelle Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read as usual. This one however, got a little dark about half way through. But, I reminded myself of how the author used controversial topics to create tension, as well as to showcase her characters goodness. I am eager to read the next one, so use that as a guide of you want.

[Ro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another episode in the Turnham Malpas series. Very enjoyable.

[Sammy Vowles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book about communities coming together. Loved it

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another good book in the series. Took a little while to get into but once you are in the story its a very good read

[Lynne Easy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy escape read for anyone who likes an easy read, is part of a set but can be read as a stand alone.

[Joodie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was boring. I barely could finish it

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is 12th in the Turnham Malpas series, and is a little different from the previous ones in that it's about what happens in the village when the Rector, Peter and his family, go on a year's mission assignment in Africa.

His replacement, Anna, is not all that well received. Partly because of course no new minister can ever live up to the previous one, partly because she has some modern ideas about making the church more lively, and attractive to younger people.

Then Anna introduces a rather shifty character to the neighbourhood, and things get even worse.

Regular communications from Peter appear in the form of emails, and they too have a shock towards the end of the book.

As with most of these books (which can all be read individually, though it's probably helpful to have read at least one or two others beforehand) there's not much character development. The plotting is good and the pace is rapid, but I found myself unmoved by any of it.

And yet, this series somehow continues to be compulsive reading...

[Barbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The next book in this lovely series. I enjoy each one.

Back Cover Blurb:
When the rector, Peter, takes his family to Africa for a year so that he can work in a Mission, the villagers are bereft. They don't immediately take to the locum, Anna, who has rather modern ideas - but she does fill the church with parishioners determined to keep an eye on her. Then she brings a down-and-out petty thief into their midst causing conflict within the community. Peter keeps in touch regularly by email, and the Women's Institute comes up with the idea of raising funds for his Mission. There's an up-market pyjama party, midnight skinny dipping and an afternoon's horse racing, with more money than they dreamed of riding on a horse called Major Malpas. Then a message arrives from Peter with the most devastating news - and the villagers are more determined than ever to raise a substantial sum for Peter's Mission.

[Yvette]

There were some hysterically funny scenarios in this installment of life in Turnham-Malpas, but also some very worrying news for the villagers.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peter and family are sent to Africa, the village of turnham malpas receive a new stand in by the name of Anna how will the village take to her? A great novel with fun, love and tragedy...

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy fun read, nice characters, lots of chuckles and perfect to be made into a sweet twee english comedy telemovie.

[Denita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another easy read from the Turnham Malpas series by Rebecca Shaw. This is book no 11 and it follows the lives of the people who live in the village of Turnham Malpas. Always a good read.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best Turnham Malpas books yet! I love this continuing story!

[Ajanta Rezwana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too different from the rest of the series. Not a great read.

[Dorothy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A pleasant light read...one of a series of books set in an English Village.

[Jo-ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice light read.. similiar to Mauve Bincey. Characters are well developed :)