The Trap

by Mary Jane Staples

A wonderfully humourous Cockney saga from multi-million copy seller Mary Jane Staples. Perfect for fans of Maggie Ford, Kitty Neale and Katie Flynn. Perfect to settle down with!READERS ARE LOVING THE TRAP!"Loved this book, a very easy read with a lovely story" - 5 STAR REVIEW"Loved the humour in this book; also a great story" - 5 STAR REVIEW"Brilliant book. Love all Mary Jane Staples books." - 5 STAR REVIEW"Captivating" - 5 STAR REVIEW*********************************************************THE MOMENT HE MET HER HE KNEW LIFE WAS NEVER GOING TO BE THE SAME AGAIN...When Jamie Blair, twenty-four, unemployed, and back from the trenches, takes lodgings at Larcom Street in Walworth, he has no idea he is walking into a trap. The house is owned by Henry Mullins - a big, burly, hard drinker who makes life hell for his four stepchildren, all half-starved and frequently hit.It's Kitty, seventeen, who Jamie feels most sorry for. She takes the brunt of Mullins' bad temper, whilst trying to protect her sisters and brother.When Mullins suddenly dies - in somewhat suspicious circumstances - Kitty realises they could be in trouble. If she isn't careful the authorities could take the younger children away - split the family up...Too late Jamie finds himself with a ready-made family and a stubborn and fiery young lady called Kitty determined not to let him go.

333 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Mary Jane Staples is a pseudonym used by British author Reginald Thomas Staples (1911-2005). He is also published under the name Robert Tyler Stevens, R.T. Stevens, and James Sinclair.

Reviews

[Rhona Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A goodish book.

In this book we follow Jamie Blair and his life in Walworth. How he inveigles himself into the household, finding himself responsible for the step children of the man of the house, after he dies. The police think it suspicious and act accordingly. We have the awful step father's sister just as bad, and she gets her own come uppance.
Not for me as good as the Adams family books but good enough. Nothing bad about it. Usual humour that you find in her books.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a string of lacklustre reads, this was just my drop. Better plotted than the Adams Family series, the familiar crosstalk is here but with more actual story and less feeling you've walked into an episode of The Archers in the East End. It was a cosy cup of tea of a book that I thoroughly enjoyed. Thanks to the Internet Archive for this gem.

[Lynn Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read.