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The Lodger
Maggie Wilson was only 33, but life in the teeming streets of Walworth was not that easy in 1908 - not if you were a widow with four young daughters. It was pretty much a hand-to-mouth existence, and without the lodger Maggie really wouldn't have managed at all. Constable Harry Bradshaw thought the Wilsons were a gutsy and brave little family - from the youngest and cheekiest, Daisy, up to the elegant Trary, 13 years old and quite the young lady. But the one who won most of his admiration was Maggie herself, fighting her lonely battle against total poverty. And his fears for her concerned more than just their lack of money. For a murderer was loose in South London - a rather sinister strangler who obviously knew the local streets and alleys very well indeed. A full-scale investigation was put in hand, and Harry was told, in particular, to inquire into any new lodgers who had moved into the district. And there was something very peculiar indeed about Maggie Wilson's lodger.
Audio CD
First published March 1, 1991
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About the author
Mary Jane Staples
66 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 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 20, 2014
4.5 Stars
This is a retelling of Marie Belloc Lowndes' book The Lodger but with a humorous cockney twist. While characters go about their daily routines and see to their own joys and challenges, a murderer is afoot. A murderer who strangles his lady victims and takes a lock of their golden hair as a souvenir.
No, the murders are not funny. But this is where Mary Jane Staples (a.k.a. Robert Tyler Stevens) excels at his craft. The way he can take a subject like Jack the Ripper and turn it into a feel good story is masterful. In this novel we are treated to three distinct romances, a lot of cockney humor and bantering dialog as well as satisfying suspense.
It's a light read but there's still enough going on to satisfy serious readers who like a meatier story. The cover art makes you think its a YA novel but it really isn't. I would say because of themeatic elements older teenagers and up would be best suited.
CONTENT:
SEX: alluded to (off screen), one victim is a prostitute.
PROFANITY: Mild (if you're American), Moderate (if you're British). No F bombs.
VIOLENCE: Mild
MY RATING: PG-13 (for profanity)
This is a retelling of Marie Belloc Lowndes' book The Lodger but with a humorous cockney twist. While characters go about their daily routines and see to their own joys and challenges, a murderer is afoot. A murderer who strangles his lady victims and takes a lock of their golden hair as a souvenir.
No, the murders are not funny. But this is where Mary Jane Staples (a.k.a. Robert Tyler Stevens) excels at his craft. The way he can take a subject like Jack the Ripper and turn it into a feel good story is masterful. In this novel we are treated to three distinct romances, a lot of cockney humor and bantering dialog as well as satisfying suspense.
It's a light read but there's still enough going on to satisfy serious readers who like a meatier story. The cover art makes you think its a YA novel but it really isn't. I would say because of themeatic elements older teenagers and up would be best suited.
CONTENT:
SEX: alluded to (off screen), one victim is a prostitute.
PROFANITY: Mild (if you're American), Moderate (if you're British). No F bombs.
VIOLENCE: Mild
MY RATING: PG-13 (for profanity)
March 20, 2015
This book. All I can think to say right now is treat yourself to a humdinger of a book.
I really loved this book, it was exactly what I needed, light-ish, witty with a hint of danger that but the end had intensified into a slightly creepy atmosphere. There's two love stories going on, one is between Maggie and ____, while the other was with her remarkably humorous daughter and "The Boy with a Box on His Head". I'm not one for tween romance, but I was wholeheartedly encouraging this one. And then her mother, her story was remarkably sweet, but never overpoweringly so.
When I started I didn't really think that Jack the Ripper would have much to do with anything, since he was never found in real life and in the other The Lodger, he was not anything like the characters in This Loger. But in the book, we get to see him and from a different prospective that brought it home in a as I said earlier, creepy way. But not horror quality, just an abundance of suspense.
If you like to pick up a lighter book every now and then but like it to still have substance, I really recommend this book, the cockney banter and bright characters with the thrill of suspense were just perfect for me, and I hope, for others too.
PG For the murders, we aren't given details but we do know how they die and there is a prostitute in it whose business is spoken of breifly. Other than that there was a few swears but nothing else.
I really loved this book, it was exactly what I needed, light-ish, witty with a hint of danger that but the end had intensified into a slightly creepy atmosphere. There's two love stories going on, one is between Maggie and ____, while the other was with her remarkably humorous daughter and "The Boy with a Box on His Head". I'm not one for tween romance, but I was wholeheartedly encouraging this one. And then her mother, her story was remarkably sweet, but never overpoweringly so.
When I started I didn't really think that Jack the Ripper would have much to do with anything, since he was never found in real life and in the other The Lodger, he was not anything like the characters in This Loger. But in the book, we get to see him and from a different prospective that brought it home in a as I said earlier, creepy way. But not horror quality, just an abundance of suspense.
If you like to pick up a lighter book every now and then but like it to still have substance, I really recommend this book, the cockney banter and bright characters with the thrill of suspense were just perfect for me, and I hope, for others too.
PG For the murders, we aren't given details but we do know how they die and there is a prostitute in it whose business is spoken of breifly. Other than that there was a few swears but nothing else.
February 17, 2020
Another excellent read from Staples, this time set in Edwardian London. Staples is more skilful than most at weaving mystery with romance in a balanced fashion. There were a couple of twists in the tale that had me wondering till the end. Yes, it's a taste formulaic, yes it's a taste magical--always some wonderful happening saves the day--but there's a time of day when that's what I want. This is a comfy, cosy eveningtime read that was just my drop.
May 6, 2025
This story is set in the early 1900s and is a mystery drama about a series of murders on women in south London. The story is centred around the detectives and a young widower and her three daughters. I liked the characters and the wit and back chat of the stories and look forward to more books by the author.
June 19, 2024
Audio book. Thoroughly enjoyable story. Mainly a romance but with enough mystery and tension to keep it interesting. I liked all the characters. I missed the main clue to the murderer’s identity so it was an exciting finale for me. Other readers may have realised from around the middle of the book.
The narrator’s cockney accent gave the story, set in East End London, just after the Ripper era, authenticity.
The narrator’s cockney accent gave the story, set in East End London, just after the Ripper era, authenticity.
September 12, 2023
One of the best narrators I’ve ever listened to, and a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining story as well.
At over ten hours and free in Audible’s Plus catalogue, it doesn’t get much better.
Well worth a listen/read.
At over ten hours and free in Audible’s Plus catalogue, it doesn’t get much better.
Well worth a listen/read.
February 26, 2026
A relaxing, uncomplicated read!
May 2, 2025
A good read.
At first I thought this was just a romance like other of the writer's books. But this is also a murder mystery as well. A serial killer us killing women who have blonde hair. There is very little to go on and with uniform and CID are stumped.
In this book there are three romances if you will. One is Maggie Wilson a widow with 4 girls. Her eldest Mary ( called Trary) meets Bobby Reeves and they are the humour in the book. Harry Bradshaw policeman is the one who helps Maggie. While Det Sgt Chamberlain is helping Emma Carter with enquiries.
A very good story.
At first I thought this was just a romance like other of the writer's books. But this is also a murder mystery as well. A serial killer us killing women who have blonde hair. There is very little to go on and with uniform and CID are stumped.
In this book there are three romances if you will. One is Maggie Wilson a widow with 4 girls. Her eldest Mary ( called Trary) meets Bobby Reeves and they are the humour in the book. Harry Bradshaw policeman is the one who helps Maggie. While Det Sgt Chamberlain is helping Emma Carter with enquiries.
A very good story.
September 24, 2018
Great wonderful intriguing kept me hooked. Didn't dislike anything. Well written with a good end. Wow briliant
Great wonderful brilliant. Kept me hooked from beginning to end. Didn't dislike anything .Will love to read more of her work
Great wonderful brilliant. Kept me hooked from beginning to end. Didn't dislike anything .Will love to read more of her work
June 10, 2018
Love it from start to finish was hook from the first page,the children were great characters
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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July 5, 20191908 Walworth family...cutesy
August 5, 2023
Great book to get lost in
May 23, 2024
An enjoyable but rather routine story.
April 16, 2014
Mary Jane Staples is one of my favourite authors and has written a whole series of books set in Cockney South London from the end of the 19th century up until almost the present day. Her most famous books deal with the life and loves of the Adams family. The Lodger, however, is not part of this series, but is a stand-alone story set in 1908.
Maggie Wilson is a poverty-stricken widow with four daughters. She attracts the interest of Constable Harry Bradshaw during his investigations into a series of murders involving women with fair hair. He is deeply suspicious of Maggie's rather peculiar new lodger...
I really enjoyed this book - the murders provide an interesting back-drop to the three romance strands (I won't give any more away!). I loved the witty and sparkling Cockney dialogue, for which Mary Jane Staples has a very clever ear.
It is a light and pleasant read - the murders, while obviously unpleasant, are far from graphic and do not overwhelm the romance. A recommended read!
Maggie Wilson is a poverty-stricken widow with four daughters. She attracts the interest of Constable Harry Bradshaw during his investigations into a series of murders involving women with fair hair. He is deeply suspicious of Maggie's rather peculiar new lodger...
I really enjoyed this book - the murders provide an interesting back-drop to the three romance strands (I won't give any more away!). I loved the witty and sparkling Cockney dialogue, for which Mary Jane Staples has a very clever ear.
It is a light and pleasant read - the murders, while obviously unpleasant, are far from graphic and do not overwhelm the romance. A recommended read!
February 7, 2017
Sweet, easy reading, and evoked a strong sense of period and place, but lacked bite. I thought the murder mystery would have a larger role, given how the blurb of the book, but it only really was relevant to one the plot threads - which was rather detached from the other two plot threads.
August 25, 2022
Enjoyed this book about Maggie a widow & her 4 girls
Funny at times with Bobby
The murders of women in the area & the characters involved including Emma & the policemen
Maggie has no money & borrowed money, behind with her rent & no food on the table she takes a lodger Mr Bates
This is where the story has twists & turns
Funny at times with Bobby
The murders of women in the area & the characters involved including Emma & the policemen
Maggie has no money & borrowed money, behind with her rent & no food on the table she takes a lodger Mr Bates
This is where the story has twists & turns
June 12, 2015
4.5 stars really enjoyed it
December 15, 2016
A good and enjoyable read in the tradition of MJ staples, heart warming family values, social historical background and comic interactions.
September 9, 2019
Very good book with a story and characters that bend so well together can highly recommend this book 5*
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews