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Tales from Turnham Malpas #13
The Village Green Affair
Dramatic events in Turnham Malpas make for a steamy summer. A mysterious visitor has arrived in Turnham Malpas. What can Titus Bellamy want? Is it true, the villagers ask each other, that he has discovered a medieval charter which grants the right to hold a market on their picturesque village green? And if it is true, can he be stopped? Meanwhile, after twenty-five years, the marriage of Liz and Neville Neal is on the rocks. Or so the unhappy Liz thinks. But Neville, to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary, has decided to throw a lavish party. The anniversary party and the market on the green mark both the beginning and the end of two quite different relationships. But is it really all the fault of Titus Bellamy? The village is divided - before a spate of burglaries on market day adds fuel to the hot debate, and someone unexpected decides to take matters into her own hands...
- GenresFictionContemporary
304 pages, Paperback
First published March 6, 2008
15 people are currently reading
163 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 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 3, 2015
I listened to the audiobook of this and enjoyed it very much. It reminds me a bit of "The Archers"... country living with its ups and downs, and its neighbourhood dramas. This one tells the story of a weekly market arriving in Turnham Malpas village, and the dire consequences to the community. Very relaxing.
June 9, 2019
Is every one in this village mad?
October 13, 2025
"The stranger stretched his long legs out in front of him, locking his ankles together, and observed the ancient village waking up . . . Yes, this was the place, he thought.
"A mysterious visitor arrives in Turnham Malpas, snooping around while keeping his cards close to his chest. Soon the village is buzzing with rumour and outrage: is Titus Bellamy planning to hold a market on the picturesque green?
"Meanwhile the Neals' marriage is on rocky ground -- according to unhappy Liz. n But blissfully unaware, Neville is planning their silver wedding anniversary celebration.
"The party and the market mark both the beginning and end of two relationships. But who is really to blame . . .?"
~~back cover
Titus Bellamy is indeed planning a market on the picturesque green, and his plans bear fruit.
The market turns out to be high class, not scruffy as the villagers had feared, resulting in a sharp division of opinion: those who didn't want the traffic nor the competition to Jimbo's market, and those who appreciated having a choice and cheaper prices. Tempers flare, and battle lines are drawn.
In the meantime, Liz and Titus are magnetically drawn to each other, leaving Liz to struggle with knowing what most people consider right, and what her heart is telling her. Either choice is a betrayal of either Neal or herself.
It's not a particularly happy ending, but possibly the only available one.
"A mysterious visitor arrives in Turnham Malpas, snooping around while keeping his cards close to his chest. Soon the village is buzzing with rumour and outrage: is Titus Bellamy planning to hold a market on the picturesque green?
"Meanwhile the Neals' marriage is on rocky ground -- according to unhappy Liz. n But blissfully unaware, Neville is planning their silver wedding anniversary celebration.
"The party and the market mark both the beginning and end of two relationships. But who is really to blame . . .?"
~~back cover
Titus Bellamy is indeed planning a market on the picturesque green, and his plans bear fruit.
The market turns out to be high class, not scruffy as the villagers had feared, resulting in a sharp division of opinion: those who didn't want the traffic nor the competition to Jimbo's market, and those who appreciated having a choice and cheaper prices. Tempers flare, and battle lines are drawn.
In the meantime, Liz and Titus are magnetically drawn to each other, leaving Liz to struggle with knowing what most people consider right, and what her heart is telling her. Either choice is a betrayal of either Neal or herself.
It's not a particularly happy ending, but possibly the only available one.
October 31, 2018
Again a nice light read about the goings on in the village of Turnham Malpas.
March 8, 2021
easy summer read that I enjoyed on the beach. Ending sucked tho.
March 12, 2021
Love all Rebecca Shaws books, it’s like visiting old friends.
September 13, 2022
At 1st I couldn't get in to this read but I had persevered with it and then I got in to it. It was a brilliant read, I had enjoyed it and I didn't want it too end.
January 15, 2023
his death was so unjustified?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2024
3.5⭐️ At first, I couldn’t get into this book. Then it struck and I couldn’t stop reading. Great book. Bad ending. Would have been 4stars if Titus Bellamy didn’t die. Liz deserved better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2011
The 13th in the series and I must say that I really enjoyed this book - so much happening to all the characters.....good read.
Back Cover Blurb:
A mysterious visitor arrives in Turnham Malpas, snooping around while keeping his cards close to his chest. Soon the village is buzzing with rumour and outrage: is Titus Bellamy planning to hold a market on the picturesque green?
Meanwhile the Neals' marriage is on rocky ground - according to unhappy Liz. But blissfully unaware, Neville is planning their silver wedding anniversary celebration.
The party and the market mark both the beginning and end of two relationships. But who is really to blame.....?
Back Cover Blurb:
A mysterious visitor arrives in Turnham Malpas, snooping around while keeping his cards close to his chest. Soon the village is buzzing with rumour and outrage: is Titus Bellamy planning to hold a market on the picturesque green?
Meanwhile the Neals' marriage is on rocky ground - according to unhappy Liz. But blissfully unaware, Neville is planning their silver wedding anniversary celebration.
The party and the market mark both the beginning and end of two relationships. But who is really to blame.....?
September 16, 2014
I was given some of the books in this series, but have found that the author expects the reader to have read the books in sequence, therefore I had a job catching up with what had happened to the characters.
I think you have to be prepared to read this series in chronological order, otherwise you will miss a lot of what has happened in the village. I found them a good read, always with unexpected twists and turns. I liked the list of characters and the map of the village at the front of the book.
This particular book had an unexpected twist towards the end, and I was quite upset by it, but that is what keeps people reading this series.
I think you have to be prepared to read this series in chronological order, otherwise you will miss a lot of what has happened in the village. I found them a good read, always with unexpected twists and turns. I liked the list of characters and the map of the village at the front of the book.
This particular book had an unexpected twist towards the end, and I was quite upset by it, but that is what keeps people reading this series.
February 28, 2016
A rather disturbing selection in the Turnham Malpas series. What begins as a mystery, ends as more than a tragedy. Peter and Caroline shine as examples of love and all that it can overcome, but Caroline's good friend Liz can only dream of this bliss. I'm hoping things will unwind in the next installment.
February 4, 2013
A good read. Agin more darker elements in this novel and another death.
October 28, 2016
I love reading these books as they are a light & easy read about village life. This is number 13 in the series and you come to regard the characters in the books as being very special.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews