A Village Feud

Tales from Turnham Malpas #12

by Rebecca Shaw

A delightful slice of Turnham Malpas gossip, intrigue and conflict from the Sunday Times bestselling author.With the Rector Peter Harris and his family back from Africa, the villagers of Turnham Malpas heave huge sighs of relief - everything seems to be back to normal. But Peter has other ideas, and decides to return to Africa to fulfil his promise of working there for a year, leaving his family behind.The villagers are also missing Peter's guidance, especially when the store is the target of petty theft and violence. Everyone is relying on Peter's return to help restore harmony. But will he make it back before things get out of hand?

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 5, 2006

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

[Cindy aka "The Book Fairy" · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought was a charming and easy to get caught up in tale of a little British village! It was a pleasure as a friend had loaned it to me to try out:) Hadn't thought or noticed her books despite being an avid reader but certainly mind reading more by her!

[Tracy Larner-Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

At a time when I need some easy, comfort reading, the Turnham Malpas village tales are proving absolutely perfect.

[Aimee Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's always something so comforting about a Turnham Malpas book, and this one was no different. Although there were some darker storylines, such as that of Andy Moorhouse, it always puts a smile on my face.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series of village life never fails to lift up my spirits.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series just gets darker and darker. Not really sure why I keep reading about these unpleasant people. I guess it is my love of England and its villages.

[Michelle Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

These wonderful books, with their peaceful setting, have been a constant comfort. I cannot recommend them enough for folks seeking a gentle, peaceful read.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"With the Rector Peter Harris and his family back from Africa, the villagers of Turnham Malpas heave huge sighs of relief -- everything seems to be back to normal. But Peter has other ideas,m and returns to Africa to fulfill a promise. In Turnham Malpas, the family he leaves behind is a very troubled one -- the twins, Beth and Alex, are still disturbed by their traumatic experiences in Africa, and Caroline is finding it hard to deal with the fat that they will not share their feelings with her.

"The villagers are also missing Peter's guidance, especially when the village store is the target of petty theft and violence. Everyone is banking on Peter's return to help restore harmony -- but will he make it back before things get out of hand . . .?"
~~back cover

Newcomers to the village -- Jenny Sweetapple and Andy Moorhouse -- are rapidly becoming the center of attention. Jenny for her new business, Cottage Beauty, specializing in reflexology, aromatherapy,massage, sports injury treatments, hairdressing, manicures, and pedicures. which didn't attract many clients at all, given that Jenny was a newcomer and as such, suspect. It was only when Grandma Charter-Plackett went for a session and enjoyed it so much she talked it up all over the village that Jenny's little business began to thrive.

Andy, however, was another kettle of fish. Slippery and unfathomable, Grandma Charter-Plackett thought. He deeply resented Jimbo for an incident that happened years ago at Cambridge, when Jimbo was a student and Andy a college servant. And so he began to plot the failure of the store, by returning food items that he claimed were bought at the Store, that he'd allow to spoil.

And then Jenny disappeared. Andy claimed she'd gone to visit her mother, but . . . And of course the truth eventually came out, and Andy was off to prison.

This book, number 12 in the series, was really exciting the plot of Andy's machinations and then his unbelievable actions.

[Chris Meehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh the intrigue within a small village. Always enjoy Rebecca Shaws Turnham Malpas stories although this one had a little more of the nasty side of life within it. A good holiday read.

[Mildred Rupert · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book to read. Love this series. I haven't read them all, just some. Need to see if I can find more of them.

[Anežka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Čteno v angličtině

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in two sittings. I love this series of books and the way the lives of the villagers interlink with each other. Easy reading with relatable characters.

[Vera · Rating 5 out of 5]

not normally my cup of tea

But I’ve enjoyed the visits to the village enormously . I recommend these books as a light read . Not my normal crime reads at all

[Barbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 12th in this wonderful series. I do love these books.

Back Cover Blurb:
With the Rector Peter Harris and his family back from Africa, the villagers of Turnham Malpas heave huge sighs of relief - everything seems to be back to normal. But Peter has other ideas, and returns to Africa to fulfil a promise. In Turnham Malpas, the family he leaves behind is a very troubled one - the twins, Beth and Alex, are still disturbed by their traumatic experiences in Africa, and Caroline is finding it hard to deal with the fact that they will not share their feelings with her.
The villagers are also missing Peter's guidance, especially when the village store is the target of petty theft and violence. Everyone is banking on Peter's return to help restore harmony - but will he make it back before things get out of hand....?

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was by far my favourite book in this series so far, although it was a lot dark in comparison to the others. Caroline, and the children have returned from Africa but both Beth and Alex are hiding a secret, a dark secret. The new arrivals to the village Jenny and Andy also arrive with secrets and cause the village much trouble. Jimbo also receives some horrible poison pen letters and his lovely shop is vandalized what will happen to the residents and the beloved characters only one way to find out. Read it!

[Harley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well this was really cornball. I should give it one star and say I didn't like it, but I finished it, more or less. My big complaint? No character development, nothing changed. Just villains and sort of heroes, and everything working out all right in the end.

[Charlotte Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book started of slow but once you got going it was fully enjoyable book and one that you wanted to finish reading to find out what happens. It brings years to your eyes when reading about the twins and then jimbo reopens the shop.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather disturbing book from the Turnham Malpas series, on several fronts. All's well that ends well, however. The rector's belief in God, and his family's belief in him are amazing. A testament to true love!

[Ro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this series. Loveable characters and very easy to read.