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The Cuckoo #1
Flight of the Cuckoo
There is an alternative cover edition for this book
A funny novel of twists and turns, life, death, love, and of course.....revenge.
This is the dark but humourous tale of Sarah Pemberton, who is not a happy woman.
A down to earth, inventive soul who despises her stuck up pompous husband Neil, who believes he is much more intelligent and important than she is. When he refuses her a divorce and emotionally blackmails her into staying with him by threatening to take custody of their daughter, she's decides to make life a little more entertaining for herself, by subtly torturing him at every available opportunity.
Creative and adaptable by nature, with a wicked sense of humour, she comes up with more and more ways to ridicule him, without him ever knowing she has a hand in it.
...."During 1993-1994 amongst other things, I cooked him a meat pie with pedigree chum;
Stole his car more times than I can count; put chilli powder in his underpants,
sent a stripagram to his work (a fat one), and subscribed him to a gay porn mag! (Our paperboy avoided him like the plague after that.)".....
Finding accomplices in the form of her Aunt May, who lives in a crumbling old former hotel which was damaged during WWII, and May's two lodgers, a shy young hippy named Darren, along with his brother Matthew a former life model, they try to get rid of her husband by either 'Plan A', which consists of 'frame him for a crime so that he gets incarcerated', or 'Plan B' drive him to a nervous breakdown. Both plans are designed to discredit Neil in case of a custody battle for their daughter.
There is only one little prerequisite for every little torturous idea though, and that is,
IT HAS TO MAKE THEM LAUGH!
Unbeknown to Sarah at first, she isn't the only one with a vendetta against her husband, his entire workforce hate his guts and exploit any opportunity to make him look bad.
When plans A & B go disastrously wrong, Sarah and co set their sights on a new target,
her in-laws.
Interwoven throughout the story is the tale of Aunt May, the lynch pin of her little make shift family, who harbours secrets of her own that go back to the night the bomb fell on the east wing of the hotel.
This is not a tale of a submissive woman suffering at the hands of abuse; this is the tale of a strong courageous woman having one last laugh at other people's expense.
Contains very occasional strong language, and scenes that should not be repeated at home.
Volume One of 'The Cuckoo' series
A funny novel of twists and turns, life, death, love, and of course.....revenge.
This is the dark but humourous tale of Sarah Pemberton, who is not a happy woman.
A down to earth, inventive soul who despises her stuck up pompous husband Neil, who believes he is much more intelligent and important than she is. When he refuses her a divorce and emotionally blackmails her into staying with him by threatening to take custody of their daughter, she's decides to make life a little more entertaining for herself, by subtly torturing him at every available opportunity.
Creative and adaptable by nature, with a wicked sense of humour, she comes up with more and more ways to ridicule him, without him ever knowing she has a hand in it.
...."During 1993-1994 amongst other things, I cooked him a meat pie with pedigree chum;
Stole his car more times than I can count; put chilli powder in his underpants,
sent a stripagram to his work (a fat one), and subscribed him to a gay porn mag! (Our paperboy avoided him like the plague after that.)".....
Finding accomplices in the form of her Aunt May, who lives in a crumbling old former hotel which was damaged during WWII, and May's two lodgers, a shy young hippy named Darren, along with his brother Matthew a former life model, they try to get rid of her husband by either 'Plan A', which consists of 'frame him for a crime so that he gets incarcerated', or 'Plan B' drive him to a nervous breakdown. Both plans are designed to discredit Neil in case of a custody battle for their daughter.
There is only one little prerequisite for every little torturous idea though, and that is,
IT HAS TO MAKE THEM LAUGH!
Unbeknown to Sarah at first, she isn't the only one with a vendetta against her husband, his entire workforce hate his guts and exploit any opportunity to make him look bad.
When plans A & B go disastrously wrong, Sarah and co set their sights on a new target,
her in-laws.
Interwoven throughout the story is the tale of Aunt May, the lynch pin of her little make shift family, who harbours secrets of her own that go back to the night the bomb fell on the east wing of the hotel.
This is not a tale of a submissive woman suffering at the hands of abuse; this is the tale of a strong courageous woman having one last laugh at other people's expense.
Contains very occasional strong language, and scenes that should not be repeated at home.
Volume One of 'The Cuckoo' series
378 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 10, 2014
55 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 7, 2017
This is a light hearted funny book, that doesn't take itself seriously. It was just what i needed and it made me laugh out loud. If your in the market for revenge ideas then look no further!
September 26, 2019
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"
That just about sums up this delicious tale. The first half of the book was littered with "laugh out loud moments", although the jokes started to wear thin as the story unfolded. I could not understand why our heroine would want custody of such an awful, self obsessed, brat of a daughter. I felt the husband deserved everything thrown at him, at the start at least. As the story unfolded I began to feel a little sorry for him - same with his parents. Our heroine was definitely mentally challenged and, in the end, not very likeable. Still, it was a very enjoyable read.
That just about sums up this delicious tale. The first half of the book was littered with "laugh out loud moments", although the jokes started to wear thin as the story unfolded. I could not understand why our heroine would want custody of such an awful, self obsessed, brat of a daughter. I felt the husband deserved everything thrown at him, at the start at least. As the story unfolded I began to feel a little sorry for him - same with his parents. Our heroine was definitely mentally challenged and, in the end, not very likeable. Still, it was a very enjoyable read.
January 1, 2019
Hilarious from start to finish
I started laughing on page 1 and laughed almost the entire way through! Loveable characters, great inventive revenge plots, heartwarming connections, people getting what they truly deserve both good and bad, and a main character who DOESN'T TAKE STUFF LIEING DOWN!!!
Truly an epic book. I can't wait to read the second in the series!
I started laughing on page 1 and laughed almost the entire way through! Loveable characters, great inventive revenge plots, heartwarming connections, people getting what they truly deserve both good and bad, and a main character who DOESN'T TAKE STUFF LIEING DOWN!!!
Truly an epic book. I can't wait to read the second in the series!
January 15, 2017
Hilarious!!
I absolutely loved this book! Very seldom does a book actually make me laugh out loud.....this book did....many times!! If you like to laugh or you need some ideas for sweet revenge.....this is the book for you!! Read it...you won't be disappointed!
I absolutely loved this book! Very seldom does a book actually make me laugh out loud.....this book did....many times!! If you like to laugh or you need some ideas for sweet revenge.....this is the book for you!! Read it...you won't be disappointed!
August 6, 2017
Humorous light reading which was enjoyable.
Chosen due to others ratings, thank you.
Whisked through wondering what could possibly happen next.
Wonder what the xj looked like.
Chosen due to others ratings, thank you.
Whisked through wondering what could possibly happen next.
Wonder what the xj looked like.
September 25, 2017
Hysterical, had me laughing from start to finish. Didn't realise it is a set of 3 books the 3rd not written yet but I will be reading them.
February 4, 2017
Snarky revenge humor is just what's needed after a stressful work week. I snickered my way through this book.
(Lots of typos and editing mistakes however.)
(Lots of typos and editing mistakes however.)
September 25, 2016
Meet Sarah. She does all the things you'd do if you dared.
Sarah's husband is a very unpleasant man. The acorn didn't fall far from the oak tree, because his parents are awful, too. Sadly, Sarah's daughter has turned out just like them.
So what is an unappreciated, emotionally (and sometimes physically) abused wife to do? Well, Sarah has a few ideas and they're very creative and very dangerous and totally illegal.
Ideally, an unhappy couple should seek good marital counseling and take appropriate actions to ensure a satisfactory marriage or a civil, friendly divorce. But how often does life really work out like that? It certainly doesn't for Sarah. She's forced to use her ingenuity and that's something she has plenty of.
If you're looking for a realistic depiction of marriage and divorce, you've come to the wrong place. This is off-the-wall fantasy at its wildness. But it IS really, really funny and Sarah and her eccentric Aunt May are fascinating characters. If you don't mind some profanity and vulgarity, it's an entertaining romp. Just remember what they say. DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!
Sarah's husband is a very unpleasant man. The acorn didn't fall far from the oak tree, because his parents are awful, too. Sadly, Sarah's daughter has turned out just like them.
So what is an unappreciated, emotionally (and sometimes physically) abused wife to do? Well, Sarah has a few ideas and they're very creative and very dangerous and totally illegal.
Ideally, an unhappy couple should seek good marital counseling and take appropriate actions to ensure a satisfactory marriage or a civil, friendly divorce. But how often does life really work out like that? It certainly doesn't for Sarah. She's forced to use her ingenuity and that's something she has plenty of.
If you're looking for a realistic depiction of marriage and divorce, you've come to the wrong place. This is off-the-wall fantasy at its wildness. But it IS really, really funny and Sarah and her eccentric Aunt May are fascinating characters. If you don't mind some profanity and vulgarity, it's an entertaining romp. Just remember what they say. DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!
September 11, 2014
Told in a diary-like fashion this is a story of practical jokes and revenge. The efforts the lead takes to rid herself of her husband due to his behaviour whilst joining up with her batty Aunt and a pair of brothers.
Class warfare mixed into the melting pot of descriptions of the jokes with a not so predictable detail of marital abuse. The only part that jarred for me was the description of the young daughter.
Reading the second part now but the story is satisfactory on its own. Recommended for all who have a slightly wicked sense of humour
Class warfare mixed into the melting pot of descriptions of the jokes with a not so predictable detail of marital abuse. The only part that jarred for me was the description of the young daughter.
Reading the second part now but the story is satisfactory on its own. Recommended for all who have a slightly wicked sense of humour
March 15, 2016
I have to admit, this on had me laughing out loud. It is a fun read. If you like dark humor coupled with revenge you might like it too. It was interesting how creative the characters get throughout the book. I liked the people, the quirkiness, and the location (UK). It is a testament to the book when it stays with you, it still has me smiling. Very original and funny. The sequel not so much. But, this one is so worth it
January 19, 2017
lovely book
This book was a gamble that certainly paid off, kept me amused ALL through it...can definitely recommend...perhaps not for married women (to many ideas) or the divorced would upset by feeling inadequate...read and smile.
This book was a gamble that certainly paid off, kept me amused ALL through it...can definitely recommend...perhaps not for married women (to many ideas) or the divorced would upset by feeling inadequate...read and smile.
June 16, 2015
really enjoyed - very funny and entertaining - and not what I was expecting the story to be like but in a good way - didn't want to put the book down
October 5, 2015
Absolutely hilarious book!!
Hilarious!!! The stuff she came up with had me cracking up!!! Def recommend this book!! I was laughing so hard.
Hilarious!!! The stuff she came up with had me cracking up!!! Def recommend this book!! I was laughing so hard.
April 28, 2017
Hilarious!! The author has an evil sense of humour 😊wish I could have thought of half the pranks the are described in this book.. had me laughing my bum off and much cheering "you go girl"
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews