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Tales from Turnham Malpas #15
Village Deception
When Harry Dickenson arrives in Turnham Malpas, the warm welcome he receives convinces him to stay. Handsome and charming, Harry quickly earns his place in rural life. But despite his outward friendliness, Harry is a troubled man, hiding memories of a tragic past from which he is desperate to escape. Just as Harry finds some measure of peace, he encounters the one woman in the village likely to turn any man's head. Soon, Harry is caught in an obsessive love that threatens to ruin everything that he has accomplished - and reveal his shocking secret to all. But Harry isn't the only man in the village to fall head-over-heels. Paddy Cleary, the shy gardener, is smitten. But will Paddy find the confidence to reveal his true feelings? And will the young lady return his affections? The villagers must wait and watch, hoping the burgeoning friendship will lead to something more...
- GenresContemporaryFiction
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
About the author
Rebecca Shaw
76 books113 followersSunday 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 26, 2016
Nice easy read and one that you can do in one sitting if wanted
October 17, 2025
"A newcomer has arrived in Turnham Malpas. Harry is handsome and charming, and quickly earns his place in rural life but, despite appearances, he is a troubled man. For Harry is hiding memories of a tragic past from which he is desperate to escape.
"As Harry begins to find some measure of peace, he encounters the one woman likely to turn any man's head -- and is soon caught in an obsessive love that threatens to ruin everything and reveal his shocking secret to all.
"But Harry isn't the only one to fall head over heels in love, and the villagers must wait and watch, hoping a burgeoning friendship will lead to something more . . ."
~~back cover
Ah, Harry. Such a gentleman. So honest and upright. So willing to be helpful. And it was all a facade, a masquerade. He fills in for Jimbo's accountant, who's very unwell. All goes exceedingly well, and then . . . money is missing while Jimbo and Harriet go off on their first vacation in years.
And then Harry forms the habit of going up to the Big House for a swim every evening after work. And Venetia is happy to swim along with him. And then, of course, Venetia being Venitia and Harry being Harry . . . the plot thickens. Of course Jeremy, Venetia's husband, catches onto the plot rather quickly and tensions mount. And Jeremy gets physical.
And then Harry disappears for a weekend. And Venetia also goes missing. Suspicions run amok in the village of course. Harry returns, with a feeble story of a family funeral. And then someone spots him on the telly . . . apparently one of a gang of bank robbers. The police are apprised of this suspicion, and our Harry is found out, with the obvious consequences.
But where's Venetia, if she didn't run off with Harry for an amorous adventure? Unfortunately, she's gone and the obvious suspect turns out to be the guilty party, for once.
"As Harry begins to find some measure of peace, he encounters the one woman likely to turn any man's head -- and is soon caught in an obsessive love that threatens to ruin everything and reveal his shocking secret to all.
"But Harry isn't the only one to fall head over heels in love, and the villagers must wait and watch, hoping a burgeoning friendship will lead to something more . . ."
~~back cover
Ah, Harry. Such a gentleman. So honest and upright. So willing to be helpful. And it was all a facade, a masquerade. He fills in for Jimbo's accountant, who's very unwell. All goes exceedingly well, and then . . . money is missing while Jimbo and Harriet go off on their first vacation in years.
And then Harry forms the habit of going up to the Big House for a swim every evening after work. And Venetia is happy to swim along with him. And then, of course, Venetia being Venitia and Harry being Harry . . . the plot thickens. Of course Jeremy, Venetia's husband, catches onto the plot rather quickly and tensions mount. And Jeremy gets physical.
And then Harry disappears for a weekend. And Venetia also goes missing. Suspicions run amok in the village of course. Harry returns, with a feeble story of a family funeral. And then someone spots him on the telly . . . apparently one of a gang of bank robbers. The police are apprised of this suspicion, and our Harry is found out, with the obvious consequences.
But where's Venetia, if she didn't run off with Harry for an amorous adventure? Unfortunately, she's gone and the obvious suspect turns out to be the guilty party, for once.
October 13, 2017
Rebecca Shaw's Village series are a nice easy read when I want a break from my usual crime/gore fest. They're set in a village which hasn't existed in real life since rampant urbanisation began. In the real world the village shop and post office would have closed, as would the under subscribed primary school. The country pub would be a wine bar and the village as a whole would be surrounded by massive housing estates.
But this is literary land where the rector is loved by everyone, until he suggests selling the church silver to pay for restorations. Where a stranger is met with kindness and within a matter of weeks has found himself a job, a house to rent, and a lady love. Unfortunately his lady love is not only no lady but she's married to someone else.
Of course, being a village, their secret affair is no secret at all. So when they both go missing , tongues start to wag....
But this is literary land where the rector is loved by everyone, until he suggests selling the church silver to pay for restorations. Where a stranger is met with kindness and within a matter of weeks has found himself a job, a house to rent, and a lady love. Unfortunately his lady love is not only no lady but she's married to someone else.
Of course, being a village, their secret affair is no secret at all. So when they both go missing , tongues start to wag....
April 8, 2020
A strange mixture of people and happenings in Turnham Malpas!
What a joyous time they would all be having in TM at this juncture. The village would be celebrating Paddy and Tamsin's wedding and all the other happenings at this time including Harry's downfall. What a time they would all be having then!!
What a joyous time they would all be having in TM at this juncture. The village would be celebrating Paddy and Tamsin's wedding and all the other happenings at this time including Harry's downfall. What a time they would all be having then!!
July 23, 2018
Love them all.
A beautiful read, lovely gentle books where you eventually know everyone and don't want them to leave. All their lives become part of yours, and they're your friends. Highly recommend easy reading.
A beautiful read, lovely gentle books where you eventually know everyone and don't want them to leave. All their lives become part of yours, and they're your friends. Highly recommend easy reading.
December 20, 2020
This episode in the Turnham Malpas series is an explosion of activity, including a murder. Yet the author makes sure the little village stays one in which you'd want to live forever. I really can't endorse these books more. You will reread them for years.
June 30, 2013
This is Book 15 in the Turnham Malpas series. I always enjoy reading the next instalment in this little village.
July 4, 2019
Jeez. Do these people do nothing but sleep around and sock each other in the jaw?
September 18, 2020
3.5 the first few chapters were great but half way through the book I just find myself skipping through the pages. It was a light read, good but not great.
May 21, 2021
I enjoy this series so much I’m going to miss these people when it’s over.
August 5, 2024
Another wonderful read about village life.
April 11, 2011
Like the rest of the series, this is a pleasant and easy read. I've read all the others in the series and so have to read any new ones, just out of habit, but I do wonder whether this series has reached the end of its natural life now.
May 30, 2012
I had stopped reading the village novels for a while, but seen this in the library and picked it up and couldn't put it down. Love a wee bit of escapism for a while :) good wee read again set in the village of Turnham Malpas
November 15, 2012
Sometimes a little clunky and predictable but an enjoyable easy read.
December 19, 2013
Jusy OK.
January 23, 2014
Not bad but not great
March 21, 2015
Nice easy read with a juicy storyline
April 18, 2015
A good story as always from Rebecca Shaw.
January 25, 2025
Fun little country story, entertaining...
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews