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The Trap
When Jamie Blair, 24, unemployed and back from the trenches, took lodgings at Larcom Street in Walworth, he had no idea he was walking into a trap. The house was owned by Henry Mullins, big, burly and a hard drinker. Henry made life hell for his four stepchildren who looked half-starved and frequently got bashed.
Seventeen-year-old Kitty was the one Jamie felt most sorry for. She took the brunt of Henry Mullins' bad temper whilst trying to protect her sisters and brother. When Mullins suddenly died - in somewhat suspicious circumstances - Kitty realised they could be in trouble. If she wasn't careful the authorities would take the younger children away - split the family up. She wasn't having that, not after all they'd gone through, and nice, kind Jamie Blair was the one to save them. Too late Jamie found himself with a ready-made family and a stubborn and fiery young termagant called Kitty who was determined not to let him go.
Seventeen-year-old Kitty was the one Jamie felt most sorry for. She took the brunt of Henry Mullins' bad temper whilst trying to protect her sisters and brother. When Mullins suddenly died - in somewhat suspicious circumstances - Kitty realised they could be in trouble. If she wasn't careful the authorities would take the younger children away - split the family up. She wasn't having that, not after all they'd gone through, and nice, kind Jamie Blair was the one to save them. Too late Jamie found himself with a ready-made family and a stubborn and fiery young termagant called Kitty who was determined not to let him go.
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First published January 1, 1993
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About the author
Mary Jane Staples
59 books44 followersMary 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.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 4, 2025
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.
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.
February 11, 2023
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.
December 15, 2016
Enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews