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Tales from Turnham Malpas #14
The Village Newcomers
Book by Rebecca Shaw
246 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2009
11 people are currently reading
146 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 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 14, 2025
"Ford and Mercedes Barclay have decided o spend their twilight years in the lovely village of Turnham Malpas -- but will these two newcomers be made welcome? Ford has ambitious plans for the village, including the hosting of a mock Elizabethan ball. But not everyone in Turnham Malpas welcomes the newcomers with open arms. Mr Fitch, the village benefactor, is less than impressed by Ford's generosity. It isn't long before the two come to blows, leaving Ford and Mercedes to wonder whether village life is really for them.
"Meanwhile, a letter arrives at the village rectory that causes consternation. The rector's twins children, Alex and Beth, have had little contact with their birth mother. But now she wishes to build a relationship with them. After so many years, should Alex and Beth get to know their real mother? And what of Caroline, who has raised and loved them -- will she be willing to let the twins forge their own path?
"Sparkling with Rebecca Shaw's signature humour, this is another warm, witty and lively tale of village life."
~~back cover
Another contretemps between Craddock and anyone who attempts to dislodge him from his own perception as "lord of the manor." He immediately senses a rival in Ford, and takes steps to quell Ford and Mercedes' welcome in the village. Which he later regrets.
The perpetual difficulty of Suzy Palmer -- Meadows that was -- has arisen again, and this time Suzy is quite bold in her campaign to regain her children and to gain the love of her life, Peter. The children want nothing to do with her, and Peter attempts to solve the problem in a humane, Christian way, to no avail.
These difficulties are solved in the end of course, but both were impossible to be resolved to everyone's satisfaction.
"Meanwhile, a letter arrives at the village rectory that causes consternation. The rector's twins children, Alex and Beth, have had little contact with their birth mother. But now she wishes to build a relationship with them. After so many years, should Alex and Beth get to know their real mother? And what of Caroline, who has raised and loved them -- will she be willing to let the twins forge their own path?
"Sparkling with Rebecca Shaw's signature humour, this is another warm, witty and lively tale of village life."
~~back cover
Another contretemps between Craddock and anyone who attempts to dislodge him from his own perception as "lord of the manor." He immediately senses a rival in Ford, and takes steps to quell Ford and Mercedes' welcome in the village. Which he later regrets.
The perpetual difficulty of Suzy Palmer -- Meadows that was -- has arisen again, and this time Suzy is quite bold in her campaign to regain her children and to gain the love of her life, Peter. The children want nothing to do with her, and Peter attempts to solve the problem in a humane, Christian way, to no avail.
These difficulties are solved in the end of course, but both were impossible to be resolved to everyone's satisfaction.
December 17, 2020
I credit much of my survival this awful year to this series. A calm and beautiful place to spend time with people who have become friends. With this type of series you get deeply involved with the characters. I call them soap opera series, as you get just as loyal as those who watch General Hospital. And as with soap operas, characters die. Shaw however handles this in such a respectful, and kind manner, as to not make the lost so jarring, to ruin the calm of the book. I really can't recommend these books highly enough.
September 21, 2022
I enjoyed this book. It is not deep or thought provoking but sometimes you just need a good story that moves with enough pace to keep your interest. This has both. The characters became relatable very quickly and the short chapters kept the storyline moving at a decent pace. I read it in 2 days and it was just what I needed. I would read more from this series.
June 10, 2025
Love all the books in this series but not getting many jobs done as I can’t put them down once I start one 🤣😂. Easy to read and great lighthearted stores which would make great holiday reads. Only five more to read. Would thoroughly recommend them
July 26, 2017
These are sweet stories and I enjoy reading them.
June 1, 2025
honestly, this book was just meh. Towards the end I started to enjoy it but it took ages to get into it. Nice ending.
December 11, 2011
The 14th in the Turnham Malpas series. Old characters go, new ones arrive.
Back Cover Blurb:
The Barclays decide to spend their twilight years in Turnham Malpas - but not everyone welcomes the newcomers with open arms......A businessman, Ford Barclay, has ambitious plans to leave his mark on the village, including hosting a grand ball. But as Mr Fitch, the village benefactor, digs into Ford's past, he uncovers an unsavoury secret that could shatter the retirement dream.
Meanwhile, the past is also catching up with the Rector and his wife Caroline. An unexpected letter is causing concern for their twin children, Alex and Beth. Their real mother has been in touch; after years of estrangement, should they get to know her? And how will this affect Caroline? The twins find themselves facing a difficult decision.....
Back Cover Blurb:
The Barclays decide to spend their twilight years in Turnham Malpas - but not everyone welcomes the newcomers with open arms......A businessman, Ford Barclay, has ambitious plans to leave his mark on the village, including hosting a grand ball. But as Mr Fitch, the village benefactor, digs into Ford's past, he uncovers an unsavoury secret that could shatter the retirement dream.
Meanwhile, the past is also catching up with the Rector and his wife Caroline. An unexpected letter is causing concern for their twin children, Alex and Beth. Their real mother has been in touch; after years of estrangement, should they get to know her? And how will this affect Caroline? The twins find themselves facing a difficult decision.....
February 11, 2013
Such a sad book in the series, the death of one of my favourite characters in the village. It was a good wee story to read and discover more into the residents of turnham malpas... Old faces return, new neighbours arrive bringing secrets from the past and again current residents perish...
September 5, 2014
Its a good while since I read any of Rebecca Shaw's books and I had forgotten how good they are if you want to drift off into a good village life story. They are a really good read and again I really enjoyed this book.
November 21, 2014
This was another easy, relaxing read. I like Alex and Beth and more of Peter and Caroline is a delight. I really felt sorry to see Ford and Mercedes being hounded out of the village. They didn't deserve that to happen to them.
February 3, 2016
i picked up this book randomly at a book fair, and even though i haven't read any of the books series before i could get into this one. It felt like watching a series on TV. very relaxing and easy to read.
July 2, 2010
Didn't realize this was book 5 of a series. I'll revisit it when I have read books 1-4...
December 10, 2010
predictable, lacks any real plot...this series of books gets worse and worse.
August 28, 2011
Very weak and predictable. Characters generally naive and terribly stereotyped. Could be written in the 1930s.
August 28, 2013
the village at its best love affairs death and mystery
May 25, 2014
nice easy read. wouldn't mind starting the series from the beginning
March 22, 2015
This is a bit of a cheat I actually gave up 1\4way through and put it back in the donation trolley.I just couldn't,warm to it or characters or story sorry:-(
September 28, 2015
Lovely light hearted read - quite enjoying this author
July 27, 2016
Gag awful.
September 2, 2016
This was an enjoyable read, full of believable characters in an English village.
June 29, 2014
Loved the characters.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews