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Tales from Turnham Malpas #6
Scandal in the Village
When Jimbo asks his mother, Katherine, to come and live near him in Turnham Malpas, his kindness has rather more repercussions than he anticipated. Before long Katherine is organising the harvest festival display, and causes uproar with her high-handed ways. But Katherine goes too far when she petitions to rid the village of some of its residents. Only Peter, the rector, can control Katherine's more outrageous actions. Finding it hard to resist his natural charm and diplomacy she gradually begins to mellow as the village works its magic on her...
280 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 1979
15 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Shaw
74 books109 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
July 21, 2019
This book was good and what a village life is about.
Reread this book and so glad I did, still amazed how village life is.
Reread this book and so glad I did, still amazed how village life is.
February 21, 2017
There definitely is scandal in this novel in the Turnham Malpas series, where the normally quiet little community is rocked with news of "goings on" between two of its prominent members - which take a dangerous turn on the top of te church tower on All Saints Day. And what is the real story behind the Tutts? There are health worries for one person, delivery problems for another, and "Grandmama/The Duchess" Katherine Charter-Plackett just can't stop spreading false gossip......
Again, loved the escapism these books provide; it's sometimes nice to escape your own community to "live" in another for a short while. Easy-reading, brilliant for summer reading-lists and a bit of a page-turner as well. Now to the next one.....
Again, loved the escapism these books provide; it's sometimes nice to escape your own community to "live" in another for a short while. Easy-reading, brilliant for summer reading-lists and a bit of a page-turner as well. Now to the next one.....
September 27, 2025
"When Jimbo asks his mother, Katherine, to come and live near him in Turnham Malpas, his kindness has rather more repercussions than he anticipated. Before long Katherine is organizing the harvest festival display, and causes uproar with her high-handed ways. Worse still, she sets herself up as guardian of the villagers' morals, and spreads rumours and half-truths about her neighbors' lives. But Katherine goes too far when she organizes a petition to try and rid the village of those she considers to be most at fault.
"Only Peter, the rector, can control Katherine's more outrageous actions. Finding it hard to resist his natural charm and diplomacy she gradually begins to mellow as the village works its magic on her . . ."
~~back cover
Katherine is everybody's idea of a harridan, and most people wish she would go back to where she came from with her high-handed ways and holier-than-thou opinions. Gradually, however, she begins to learn at least a modicum of restraint, and actually does some good now and then.
And then there's the dilemma of Dicky and Georgie and Bel. And how can it ever be solved? Much to everyone's surprise, Peter persuades Katherine to come up with a solution and she does -- with a brilliant one, that tucks in every corner and leaves everyone satisfied.
And Caroline came through her medical crisis with flying colors ... at least so far.
Other than that, life goes on in the village as it always has do0ne, and hopefully always will do.
"Only Peter, the rector, can control Katherine's more outrageous actions. Finding it hard to resist his natural charm and diplomacy she gradually begins to mellow as the village works its magic on her . . ."
~~back cover
Katherine is everybody's idea of a harridan, and most people wish she would go back to where she came from with her high-handed ways and holier-than-thou opinions. Gradually, however, she begins to learn at least a modicum of restraint, and actually does some good now and then.
And then there's the dilemma of Dicky and Georgie and Bel. And how can it ever be solved? Much to everyone's surprise, Peter persuades Katherine to come up with a solution and she does -- with a brilliant one, that tucks in every corner and leaves everyone satisfied.
And Caroline came through her medical crisis with flying colors ... at least so far.
Other than that, life goes on in the village as it always has do0ne, and hopefully always will do.
June 16, 2024
All the books in this series could be given 5 stars up to this point, but I will refrain from rating them any higher than 4 because I can’t really choose between them any more.
This story involves a newcomer to the village in the shape of Katherine Charter-Plackett, the mother of village favourite Jimbo. She is not quite such a loveable character though and mayhem ensues when she tries to take over a harvest festival and then gets the wrong end of the stick about another favourite in the village.
And so the plot progresses and we get to see why she is the way she is and how the village and its old world charm start to mellow her.
Can’t wait for the nest one!
This story involves a newcomer to the village in the shape of Katherine Charter-Plackett, the mother of village favourite Jimbo. She is not quite such a loveable character though and mayhem ensues when she tries to take over a harvest festival and then gets the wrong end of the stick about another favourite in the village.
And so the plot progresses and we get to see why she is the way she is and how the village and its old world charm start to mellow her.
Can’t wait for the nest one!
November 19, 2020
Lovely and splendid... One of the best out of the few I have read.
This is not all gossip and nastiness; amidst the scandals and secrets, Rebecca Shaw delicately draws moral, conviction, and principle out of the messes little villages seem to find themselves in.
This is not all gossip and nastiness; amidst the scandals and secrets, Rebecca Shaw delicately draws moral, conviction, and principle out of the messes little villages seem to find themselves in.
June 26, 2021
An excellent easy read .
An well written book of village life in Turnham Malpas .That I recommend to anyone who likes to read a book very quickly. It leaves you wanting more so onto the next book.
An well written book of village life in Turnham Malpas .That I recommend to anyone who likes to read a book very quickly. It leaves you wanting more so onto the next book.
September 23, 2018
I found this tedious and badly written and provides a twee description of a village which I don't think is true of any village these days
June 26, 2019
A very good book
August 25, 2020
Good read
April 10, 2024
Another enjoyable comfort read. Although the premise is about the genteel ways of village life, Shaw certainly adds deeper issues in her work. Splendid!
May 25, 2025
Having been told that I have breached Amazon’s review rules I do not feel confident to offer my opinion.
March 28, 2011
This features, as do others in the series, the fictional village of Turnham Malpas and its residents. I'm never entirely sure why I continue reading these books, which I find from time to time in charity shops. The characterisation is flat - with so many characters I can't possibly keep track, even with the synopsis in the front - and the many subplots are like a soap opera in a book.
But when I spot one I don't have already, I pick them up, always wondering if they are going to get more interesting. I do quite like following the lives of Peter, the Rector, and his doctor wife Caroline. They are responsible for the one scene in this that I found quite moving; if the books were written from their perspective alone rather than dotting around the whole population of the village, I think I'd find them more enjoyable.
But they pass the time. This was no better or worse than any of the others I have read by this author.
But when I spot one I don't have already, I pick them up, always wondering if they are going to get more interesting. I do quite like following the lives of Peter, the Rector, and his doctor wife Caroline. They are responsible for the one scene in this that I found quite moving; if the books were written from their perspective alone rather than dotting around the whole population of the village, I think I'd find them more enjoyable.
But they pass the time. This was no better or worse than any of the others I have read by this author.
July 11, 2009
One again this proved to be a quick easy read although some of the subjects were not in keeping with the quick easy read status. I do enjoy the charicatures that Rebecca Shaw introduced, for instance Jimbo's mother in this novel. The main characters were given storylines but some of the main characters from previous novels in the series were barely mentioned. A tricky balancing act, which I thing Shaw achieves better in the Barleybridge novels personally.
September 17, 2012
With the arrival of Jimbos mum things run anything but smoothly in the village, affairs are had, people dramatically leave and a character is diagnosed with an illness. Also what will the residents of Turnham Malpas reveal in this novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2014
Another great story of village life. Some difficult story lines covered, but as usual all turns out for the best. I love the new character mrs charter-placket aka the duchess! Some great encounters with her!
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July 25, 2016Another of this series under the belt. Always easy to read and enjoyable. They often cover serious life issues. In this one a bit of physical abuse, possible incest and marital infidelity. some slightly gritty themes under the sugar coating!
December 30, 2017
Another dose of village life, quite entertaining.
August 10, 2013
The series just gets better and better as it goes on.
June 25, 2015
Another great book in the Turnham Malpas series! Quite a few scandals; some solved, some not. Grandmama Charter-Plackett is an absolute hoot! My concerns are over Caroline. To be continued, eh??
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews