It's Different Abroad

by Henry Calvin

Helen McLeish, single, sensible, and Scottish, hair brown, age thirty-four, attractive, and free, was in love with the little red car she was driving into France for the first time. But two men with ominous designs follow her and quickly fill Helen's vacation with unusual activity and -- to her absolutely bewildered amazement -- she needs rescuing fairly constantly from some astonishing situations. --back cover

"A delightful book! A romp through Normandy with an unhysterical heroine, whose good sense merely compounds her jeopardy, and a hero, wry and romantic and very French." -- Dorothy B. Hughes

Genres: Fiction

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Henry Calvin is a pen-name of Clifford Hanley, a Scottish writer and broadcaster. He used this name for the thrillers that he wrote in the 1960s and early 70s:

The System (1962)
It's Different Abroad (1962)
The Italian Gadget (1966)
A Nice Friendly Town (1967)
The DNA Business (1967)
Miranda Must Die (1968)
The Chosen Instrument (1969) -- US title: Boka Lives!
The Poison Chasers (1971)
Take Two Popes (1972)

Reviews

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Scottish woman decides to drive her new car to France. She is going to be joining her sister and family on their French holiday. However, before she is able to meet them she is harassed by a young man and she begins to fear for her safety. A kindly Frenchman helps her out though.

[Joanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Odd little book, reminded me of Mrs Pollifax.

[Denise Spicer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helen, a definitely NON hysterical spinster of thirty-four is taking her first trip to France in her new red sports car. Unbeknownst to her it is being used to smuggle diamonds. Several confusing, even frightening events occur, Helen finds a hero, and new love in a local village garagiste.

[Mesembryanthemum · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5 stars) I love this book. It's the perfect escapist read when I'm feeling hemmed in and routine-bound. Now I'm on a quest to find Henry Calvin's other thrillers.

The Internet Archive has a scanned copy of this book at archive.org/details/itsdifferentabro0000henr