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Skeletons in the Cupboard #1
The Villagers
Nothing can prepare you for the secrets of The Villagers.
Olive & Geoffrey are happier than ever. After moving to the countryside to bring up their three young children, they are welcomed with open arms by the friendly and helpful residents of the chocolate box village.
But beyond the veil of rhododendrons and net curtains, there is something more. Just as Olive is settling in and starting to integrate with the community, she finds out that all is not as it first seemed.
As her discoveries become more and more sinister, Olive begins to fear for her own sanity. With her husband doubting her, Olive is faced with choices that will decide the fate of her family.
The Villagers paints an intriguing picture of a 1950s English country village, where not everyone is who they first appear to be.
Praise for THE VILLAGERS:
"Reminds me of the late great Maeve Binchy." -Amazon Review-
"A very entertaining read."-County Woman Magazine-
Olive & Geoffrey are happier than ever. After moving to the countryside to bring up their three young children, they are welcomed with open arms by the friendly and helpful residents of the chocolate box village.
But beyond the veil of rhododendrons and net curtains, there is something more. Just as Olive is settling in and starting to integrate with the community, she finds out that all is not as it first seemed.
As her discoveries become more and more sinister, Olive begins to fear for her own sanity. With her husband doubting her, Olive is faced with choices that will decide the fate of her family.
The Villagers paints an intriguing picture of a 1950s English country village, where not everyone is who they first appear to be.
Praise for THE VILLAGERS:
"Reminds me of the late great Maeve Binchy." -Amazon Review-
"A very entertaining read."-County Woman Magazine-
- GenresFiction
184 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 11, 2016
229 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Griffiths-Jones
33 books73 followersA.J.Griffiths-Jones is a historian & genealogist with a special interest in Victorian Crime. After a decade of living & working in China, she now lives in Shropshire, England. A.J's interests include cooking, travelling & swimming.
Her debut book 'Prisoner 4374' was the result of ten years research in to the life of Dr.Thomas Neill Cream, the notorious Lambeth Poisoner & Jack the Ripper suspect.
A.J. is currently working on a sequel Ripper book and a series of novels, the first of which 'The Villagers' was published early 2016.
Her debut book 'Prisoner 4374' was the result of ten years research in to the life of Dr.Thomas Neill Cream, the notorious Lambeth Poisoner & Jack the Ripper suspect.
A.J. is currently working on a sequel Ripper book and a series of novels, the first of which 'The Villagers' was published early 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
April 8, 2020
1950's UK, a picturesque Shropshire village the setting for what looked to be a charming tale of rural English life. Olive and Geoff move into their new surroundings with their three children and all seems perfect. Or so it seems?
As the months roll into years, more and more revelations about their neighbour's activities reveal themselves. From concentration camps survivors to cross-dressers, naturists to cavorters, the sleepy village does indeed hold many secrets. Some of them dark, very dark indeed.
I love how the author effortlessly creates various scenes, where a cup of tea can absolve anyone's woes and where cakes and produce are swapped amongst the villagers like its perfectly natural. It used to be.
The ending was on the macabre side, but anyone who's watched The League of Gentlemen will know that there's nowt as queer as folk.
A fabulous story, expertly told.
As the months roll into years, more and more revelations about their neighbour's activities reveal themselves. From concentration camps survivors to cross-dressers, naturists to cavorters, the sleepy village does indeed hold many secrets. Some of them dark, very dark indeed.
I love how the author effortlessly creates various scenes, where a cup of tea can absolve anyone's woes and where cakes and produce are swapped amongst the villagers like its perfectly natural. It used to be.
The ending was on the macabre side, but anyone who's watched The League of Gentlemen will know that there's nowt as queer as folk.
A fabulous story, expertly told.
September 28, 2019
I am just not sure what I really think about this one. I have rated it 3 1\2 stars. In my opinion, it is better than a 3, but not quite a 4. It is also hard to define the genre. In some ways it is light and comical, in others, it is realistic, full of curious minds, almost to the point of being downright nosey. There was one part of the book that had an element of horror in the story. Though the author tied it altogether in the end, through the entire book, I kept trying to figure out what the plot was. I'm still not 100% sure what it was. Though the book was entertaining, it felt somewhat like a collection of short stories, where the main characters were just floating along to meet with all the strange people that lived in this town. And I do mean STRANGE!
October 27, 2020
An amusing read.
In the 1950's, Olive, Geoff and their three children move into a small British village, looking forward to living a quiet life.
As they come to know their neighbours, and the locals, they realise that this is not the peaceful village they thought it was. It appears that most people have a skeleton or two in their closets.
A light read; sometimes amusing, and at times a bit shocking.
In the 1950's, Olive, Geoff and their three children move into a small British village, looking forward to living a quiet life.
As they come to know their neighbours, and the locals, they realise that this is not the peaceful village they thought it was. It appears that most people have a skeleton or two in their closets.
A light read; sometimes amusing, and at times a bit shocking.
September 5, 2019
Wolf, Sheep’s clothing and Skeletons – brilliant
I love this author’s work, such sublime writing with a wicked imagination is the recipe that makes AJ’s books addictive. This is the fourth book of AJ’s that I have read and have already purchased my next one.
The scene is a very English village in the 1950’s. A new family move to the village and begin settling in. Olive, mother of three children, two girls off to school and a young baby boy – over 5 years the family are welcomed into the society of the villagers, her husband, Geoff is easy going and getting on with everyone. The children, well, are just playful and accepting, but Olive has an enquiring mind. She is not a gossip. She is not a prude. She just needs to know things and then she bottles it all up.
As I read the vignettes (such brilliant short stories in themselves) of various villagers, shocked, amused, sad, happy and laughing, and gradually I sensed that the traditional housewife of the period had no way to vent the storing up of so many secrets. She told her husband and he dismissed each story as, just life – live and let live eh?
And so my tension builds as does Olive’s. What on earth is next and each story is never what you imagine – so no spoilers.
In summary, this was a wonderfully enticing book. AJ’s books never fail to stir me emotionally and stimulate me; make me think of other lives, other cultures even. This is a book that is light with bite, and I recommend that you put AJ on your to be read list. All of the books.
I love this author’s work, such sublime writing with a wicked imagination is the recipe that makes AJ’s books addictive. This is the fourth book of AJ’s that I have read and have already purchased my next one.
The scene is a very English village in the 1950’s. A new family move to the village and begin settling in. Olive, mother of three children, two girls off to school and a young baby boy – over 5 years the family are welcomed into the society of the villagers, her husband, Geoff is easy going and getting on with everyone. The children, well, are just playful and accepting, but Olive has an enquiring mind. She is not a gossip. She is not a prude. She just needs to know things and then she bottles it all up.
As I read the vignettes (such brilliant short stories in themselves) of various villagers, shocked, amused, sad, happy and laughing, and gradually I sensed that the traditional housewife of the period had no way to vent the storing up of so many secrets. She told her husband and he dismissed each story as, just life – live and let live eh?
And so my tension builds as does Olive’s. What on earth is next and each story is never what you imagine – so no spoilers.
In summary, this was a wonderfully enticing book. AJ’s books never fail to stir me emotionally and stimulate me; make me think of other lives, other cultures even. This is a book that is light with bite, and I recommend that you put AJ on your to be read list. All of the books.
September 5, 2019
well, what a nice surprise this book was!! Read it in two sittings, simply could not put it down. The writing style is really entrancing, and the story is so out there, so witty and horrid and funny and sad at the same time. I can't even find the appropriate words for how much I did love this book! That village is something else, really, and poor Olive, being such a prude little mouse, getting dropped into such a place, it is just too funny. I can't believe I let this one sit unread on my kindle for so long, it is really one of the best books I've read lately. Thouroughly reccommend it, if like me, you're always looking for a twisted little read.
June 23, 2020
2.95🌟
What an odd little book. I found the writing style a bit amateurish but wanted to keep reading. I found the plotting a bit varied and the characters two dimensional but they stick in your head and you can easily visualise them. I hated the fat shaming, Geoff is a bit of a dick, Olive is an insufferable prig and their brat of a younger daughter needs a slapped arse....but I kind of enjoyed it 🤯🙈🤪
What an odd little book. I found the writing style a bit amateurish but wanted to keep reading. I found the plotting a bit varied and the characters two dimensional but they stick in your head and you can easily visualise them. I hated the fat shaming, Geoff is a bit of a dick, Olive is an insufferable prig and their brat of a younger daughter needs a slapped arse....but I kind of enjoyed it 🤯🙈🤪
July 11, 2016
Not at all what I was expecting
The description led me to believe that it was somewhat scary. The ending was quite a disappointment.
What a let down.
The description led me to believe that it was somewhat scary. The ending was quite a disappointment.
What a let down.
January 1, 2025
From the opening pages of this deftly-written book, one already has the sense that, for Olive, Geoff and their kids, life in the village into which they just moved is a bit too proper, too civil, too serene, too shiny on the surface. In other words, too unsustainably idyllic.
And sure enough, from chapter two forward (chapter after chapter), beneath the villagers' collective calm exterior, whirlpools of turmoil, churning about just below the surface, are revealed. Olive, innately innocent, is the one who inadvertently discovers the bulk of the rot, and who slowly sours on, and then reviles, the village.
There's wisdom in the construction of the book - each chapter is a pretty sketch that un-pretties itself - as the secrets uncovered in each chapter go from normal things normal people would hide to depraved things depraved people would hide. It's good fun, captivating and a joy to read.
And sure enough, from chapter two forward (chapter after chapter), beneath the villagers' collective calm exterior, whirlpools of turmoil, churning about just below the surface, are revealed. Olive, innately innocent, is the one who inadvertently discovers the bulk of the rot, and who slowly sours on, and then reviles, the village.
There's wisdom in the construction of the book - each chapter is a pretty sketch that un-pretties itself - as the secrets uncovered in each chapter go from normal things normal people would hide to depraved things depraved people would hide. It's good fun, captivating and a joy to read.
March 29, 2018
The description led me to believe that something bad was going to happen. I kept reading til I finished but nothing happened. However, the end was not what I expected and although I was ready for an exciting event, I loved the ending. The descriptions of the people were so personal and felt so real. I enjoyed this book very much.
November 12, 2020
Olive and Geoffrey move to a village in Shropshire with their family. They settle in well but as we learn about members of the village in each chapter, we soon find out all is not as it seems.
This is an enjoyable book with plenty of different characters to keep the stories entertaining. An entertaining read and some funny tales too. Looking forward to reading more in this series.
This is an enjoyable book with plenty of different characters to keep the stories entertaining. An entertaining read and some funny tales too. Looking forward to reading more in this series.
February 20, 2019
Oh I really enjoyed the writing style of this book. It was like each chapter was a short story and then it was all tidied up at the end. I found this to be funny, intriguing, disgusting, warm and so much more. I have already gone on to another book by A.J. Griffiths-Jones.
June 13, 2017
Adorable!
This was a wonderfully adorable book. I enjoyed every word. It was sweet, funny, a touch evil and truly well written.
This was a wonderfully adorable book. I enjoyed every word. It was sweet, funny, a touch evil and truly well written.
December 30, 2021
Wow!!! Absolutely loved this book it was quite not what I was expecting about a little quaint quiet village. Most definitely there was a lot of skeletons in the cupboard, oh deary me!!!
Olive and Geoffrey move to the cottage with their family hoping to settle down.
Her neighbours are not what they seem especially behind closed doors, some was shocking to say the least you just don't know what happens when the front door of a house shuts and neighbours can't see the secrets they keep.
Anyway let's say, pork, meat and potatoe pies are off my eating list at the moment laugh out loud. Some did make me chuckle though.
What an absolute fun and quick read it definitely won't be my last.
Olive and Geoffrey move to the cottage with their family hoping to settle down.
Her neighbours are not what they seem especially behind closed doors, some was shocking to say the least you just don't know what happens when the front door of a house shuts and neighbours can't see the secrets they keep.
Anyway let's say, pork, meat and potatoe pies are off my eating list at the moment laugh out loud. Some did make me chuckle though.
What an absolute fun and quick read it definitely won't be my last.
August 29, 2020
Not what I was expecting but an enjoyable read.
Geoff and Olive move to a seemingly idyllic English village with their young family. As they slowly get to know their neighbours all is not as it seems. Each of the neighbours has a strange secret, which ranges from the sad to quite disturbing. The book is made up of a series of short stories dealing with each neighbour. Overall, each story adds to the rich tapestry of this strange, little village. Showing my age but the style of the stories reminded me of a TV programme I loved when younger called Tales of the Unexpected.
Geoff and Olive move to a seemingly idyllic English village with their young family. As they slowly get to know their neighbours all is not as it seems. Each of the neighbours has a strange secret, which ranges from the sad to quite disturbing. The book is made up of a series of short stories dealing with each neighbour. Overall, each story adds to the rich tapestry of this strange, little village. Showing my age but the style of the stories reminded me of a TV programme I loved when younger called Tales of the Unexpected.
March 24, 2021
This is the third book I have read in the Skeletons in the Cupboard series and I have enjoyed them all. This time the story takes place in the small village where Olive and Geoff have decided to settle with their two daughters and son. At first, Olive is delighted to meet her new neighbours, as they all welcome her into the fold. However, as the weeks pass by, she slowly discovers things about her new friends that she would rather not know.
Another delightful read from this author.
Another delightful read from this author.
February 21, 2016
This has been the best book I have read in years Yet again aj has wrote a Very enjoyable book it's is well worth the money it's a good read the stories will have you looking at your neighbours more closely an easy to read book set in a village which can easy be the one you are living in I can't wait for her next book thank you aj for a fun book and I love the cover art as well
August 28, 2019
Audiobook review
This was a light & fun listen. I say fun it had my emotions working, some sad, some funny, some downright hilarious happenings.
No spoilers from me but look out for the little tomboy amusing & definitely relatable.
The fact these are all family tales and the family is adorable just won me over.
Narrator is very good, clear & timing was spot on.
This was a light & fun listen. I say fun it had my emotions working, some sad, some funny, some downright hilarious happenings.
No spoilers from me but look out for the little tomboy amusing & definitely relatable.
The fact these are all family tales and the family is adorable just won me over.
Narrator is very good, clear & timing was spot on.
June 25, 2016
Hilarious
As you read you think what is going to happen and then you get the punch line. I don't know if I believe its all true but the way she tells is so funny. I recommend it for a break to all the serious stuff I have been reading!
As you read you think what is going to happen and then you get the punch line. I don't know if I believe its all true but the way she tells is so funny. I recommend it for a break to all the serious stuff I have been reading!
May 13, 2018
Really liked this book. All the secrets of the Villagers, could not put this book down, just like The Circus by the same author. Now for another one of her books, The Congregation and it is free today.
June 16, 2016
Funny and shocking a must for every book case. You won't be disappointed.
July 26, 2025
What fascinated me about this book was the author’s disclosure that each story was based on the truth. With each new chapter, I found myself wondering how much of the truth was in each tale, and that intrigued me.
The novel begins with Olive, Geoff and their three young children who move to a quaint village in Shropshire. The family (but mainly Olive) meets new people in each chapter, and the villagers’ stories unfold.
Each person is hiding a secret, which the family will discover. Knowing there was an element of truth in each one kept me glued to the pages as I tried to guess how much of each quirky tale was true. Some of these stories had me laughing out loud; others had a darker connotation, but I won't mar your read by giving away any spoilers.
It is set in the 1950s, and there is an old-world charm to it. The reader is taken to a time when life was harder yet simpler than it is today. Suffice to say, this is an unusual book that I’m sure you will enjoy. I did. It was nice to spend some time there, between the pages of this book from a bygone era.
The novel begins with Olive, Geoff and their three young children who move to a quaint village in Shropshire. The family (but mainly Olive) meets new people in each chapter, and the villagers’ stories unfold.
Each person is hiding a secret, which the family will discover. Knowing there was an element of truth in each one kept me glued to the pages as I tried to guess how much of each quirky tale was true. Some of these stories had me laughing out loud; others had a darker connotation, but I won't mar your read by giving away any spoilers.
It is set in the 1950s, and there is an old-world charm to it. The reader is taken to a time when life was harder yet simpler than it is today. Suffice to say, this is an unusual book that I’m sure you will enjoy. I did. It was nice to spend some time there, between the pages of this book from a bygone era.
November 1, 2019
The Villagers: Skeletons in the Cupboard Series, Book 1 Audiobook – Unabridged
A.J. Griffiths-Jones
This audio book is based on a family's story, of a village where they lived in the early 1950's. They moved to what they thought was the perfect little village to raise their family.......that is until, over the course of five years; they meet the people that live there. There are so many secrets, most of the inhabitants have at least one. Some are hilariously funny, some are sad, some are ohhhhhh gross, but the secrets slip out. I had to keep listening to find out how it would end, and I'm not going to tell. Listen to it yourself!!! I see this is book 1 in this series, I will look for more.
The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. Tara-Louise Kaye brought this wild story to life.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
A.J. Griffiths-Jones
This audio book is based on a family's story, of a village where they lived in the early 1950's. They moved to what they thought was the perfect little village to raise their family.......that is until, over the course of five years; they meet the people that live there. There are so many secrets, most of the inhabitants have at least one. Some are hilariously funny, some are sad, some are ohhhhhh gross, but the secrets slip out. I had to keep listening to find out how it would end, and I'm not going to tell. Listen to it yourself!!! I see this is book 1 in this series, I will look for more.
The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. Tara-Louise Kaye brought this wild story to life.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
May 20, 2021
Very hard going
The writing style is stilted, confused and confusing. There were no playgroups, comprehensive schools or metric measurements in the 1950s. The story involving making a birthday cake was so contrived that it didn't make sense. If Olive had to order icing sugar and birthday cake candles from the village shop in advance, then what was all that about going into town for fondant to decorate the cake? You couldn't buy ready- made fondant in the 1950s, it would have had to be home made, with ......icing sugar. Why didn't Olive buy her icing sugar and candles when she made a special visit to town? The book is full of inaccuracies, irrelevance, and mind boggling contrivance. Interesting, though, as an example of shoddy writing.
The writing style is stilted, confused and confusing. There were no playgroups, comprehensive schools or metric measurements in the 1950s. The story involving making a birthday cake was so contrived that it didn't make sense. If Olive had to order icing sugar and birthday cake candles from the village shop in advance, then what was all that about going into town for fondant to decorate the cake? You couldn't buy ready- made fondant in the 1950s, it would have had to be home made, with ......icing sugar. Why didn't Olive buy her icing sugar and candles when she made a special visit to town? The book is full of inaccuracies, irrelevance, and mind boggling contrivance. Interesting, though, as an example of shoddy writing.
July 30, 2023
A. J. Griffith-Jones’ The Villagers is a cozy mystery set in 1950’s rural West Midlands. Each chapter is a separate tale, as the locals intentionally, or accidentally, rattle their skeletons loose. Olive, the new girl on the block, becomes their, largely reluctant, confidant and confessor.
In some ways, some of the secrets are quite twee by today’s standards - which only adds to the cozy nature of the mysteries. The characters are great fun. My favourite personalities are probably Barbara and Anna.
The stand alone chapter format makes this an ideal novel to dip in and out of - an ideal holiday read or to be read as part of a busy schedule of daily commute. I shall be reading more by this author.
In some ways, some of the secrets are quite twee by today’s standards - which only adds to the cozy nature of the mysteries. The characters are great fun. My favourite personalities are probably Barbara and Anna.
The stand alone chapter format makes this an ideal novel to dip in and out of - an ideal holiday read or to be read as part of a busy schedule of daily commute. I shall be reading more by this author.
January 26, 2019
Ok
This is the first book in the series, but I read this one after I read book two. I am glad that I did because book two was excellent while this one was just OK. I found some of the stories a bit disturbing, a bit predictable, and a bit far fetched but on the other hand, truth is stranger than fiction. This book is about the people of a village and their secret life's that the main character, Olive, finds out about much to her chagrin. Some just odd, but some more menacing. A different type of read. Part mystery and very reminiscent of the British Murder Mystery series, Midsummer Murders.
This is the first book in the series, but I read this one after I read book two. I am glad that I did because book two was excellent while this one was just OK. I found some of the stories a bit disturbing, a bit predictable, and a bit far fetched but on the other hand, truth is stranger than fiction. This book is about the people of a village and their secret life's that the main character, Olive, finds out about much to her chagrin. Some just odd, but some more menacing. A different type of read. Part mystery and very reminiscent of the British Murder Mystery series, Midsummer Murders.
March 10, 2018
This book needs to come with a warning.
When you first start reading this book you think it's a sweet little book about a nice little village. As it continues it becomes more and more disgusting. Things are that just couldn't be possible. Then you discover that more and more is possible. By the time I finished the book I was nauseated. I kept waiting to find out that it was imagination. For some big joke being perpetrated on the reader. It was not. It's closer to Stephen King than a sweet little village book
When you first start reading this book you think it's a sweet little book about a nice little village. As it continues it becomes more and more disgusting. Things are that just couldn't be possible. Then you discover that more and more is possible. By the time I finished the book I was nauseated. I kept waiting to find out that it was imagination. For some big joke being perpetrated on the reader. It was not. It's closer to Stephen King than a sweet little village book
March 4, 2025
If you enjoy gossiping with your neighbours or finding out what goes on behind the closed doors of other people's homes, this is the book for you.. As the newcomers meet people in the village over the years they discover their disturbing secrets. Each new person they meet is portrayed in a short one chapter story. This format keeps the readers interest. Set in the 1950's it is a book suitable for light holiday
reading.
reading.
May 16, 2019
I read the second in this series first and was so pleased I simply had to get the second.
Equally as good as I hoped with fascinating characters and an idyllic setting. You just never know what secrets are hidden in such a lovely place.
I enjoyed this so much I now I want to follow through to the rest of this series.
Equally as good as I hoped with fascinating characters and an idyllic setting. You just never know what secrets are hidden in such a lovely place.
I enjoyed this so much I now I want to follow through to the rest of this series.
March 18, 2018
If you’ve ever read the Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters, then this is its English prose twin. Each chapter is another family’s secret(s) exposed and expostulated. Some is comedic; some is grim; all are good reading.
October 24, 2019
I didn’t bother finishing this book. Super dull. I didn’t get the point of it. Wow people have secrets behind closed doors that are .... really predictable and nothing out of the ordinary. Boring and going nowhere. The one is for the writing style which is good.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews