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Tales from Turnham Malpas #4
Village Show
A highly anticipated summer event for the village of Turnham Malpas doesn't quite go as planned...with consequences no one could have predicted. Craddock Fitch is a relative newcomer to the village of Turnham Malpas and is keen to make a splash by holding a village show - the best ever - in the grounds of his large house. Committee secretary and coordinator of the show Louise Bissett is the spoilt daughter of Sir Ron and Lady Sheila. Although a brilliant organiser, Louise is in deep personal trouble - and her growing obsession with the married rector can only end in tears. As the weeks roll by into summer, and nerves tighten in anticipation of the great day, romances heat up and then cool down, tempers flare and misunderstandings multiply...
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 16, 1998
25 people are currently reading
172 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
November 11, 2021
These books remind me of listening to the Archers with my Great-Gran.
March 3, 2019
This is the latest instalment of the events in the lives of the residents of the village of Turnham Malpass. It is summer time and the season for the annual village show, the new resident in ‘the big house’ Craddock Fitch wants to make his presence felt by literally making a big ‘show’ of the village show, it will be held in the grounds of his imposing large house.
Of course in any decent English village if there is an event there has to be a committee and as a general rule passions run deep and there is much rivalry for the various positions such as chairman, secretary and treasurer. This is where the claws come out and do not for one moment think that a sleepy little village is without ambitious and treacherous characters.
Louise Bissett is without doubt a very capable and efficient organiser and is well equipped to carry out the duties of both committee secretary and coordinator of the show, however she is also a selfish, spoilt and deluded young woman and worst of all she has a crush on the vicar! This crush turns into an obsession and potentially could cause a serious rift between the rector and his wife and children.
As the show looms and tempers flare there are many worries to be confronted and problems to be solved if life is to continue in peace and for the show to go ahead.
Another entertaining and gentle story about events that could be happening at this moment in any small community anywhere in the country
Of course in any decent English village if there is an event there has to be a committee and as a general rule passions run deep and there is much rivalry for the various positions such as chairman, secretary and treasurer. This is where the claws come out and do not for one moment think that a sleepy little village is without ambitious and treacherous characters.
Louise Bissett is without doubt a very capable and efficient organiser and is well equipped to carry out the duties of both committee secretary and coordinator of the show, however she is also a selfish, spoilt and deluded young woman and worst of all she has a crush on the vicar! This crush turns into an obsession and potentially could cause a serious rift between the rector and his wife and children.
As the show looms and tempers flare there are many worries to be confronted and problems to be solved if life is to continue in peace and for the show to go ahead.
Another entertaining and gentle story about events that could be happening at this moment in any small community anywhere in the country
June 24, 2015
Best described as The Archers in paperback! Easy fun reading.
September 17, 2025
"Craddock Fitch is a relative newcomer to the village of Turnham Malpas and is keen to make a splash by holding a village show -- the best ever -- in the grounds of his large house. Commitee secretary and co-ordinator of the show Louise Bissett is the spoilt daughter of Sir Ron and Lady Sheila. Although a brilliant organizer, Louise is in deep personal trouble -- and her growing obsession with the married rector can only end in tears.
"As the weeks roll by into summer and nerves tighten in anticipation of the great day, romances heat up and then cool down, tempers flare and misunderstandings multiply . . . "
~~back cover
I keep waiting for Craddock Fitch to get his comeuppance . . . but that hasn't happened yet. The rector and his wife have another tragic misunderstanding and she leaves, but all's well that ends well ... Louise is finally brought to her senses and finally understands that the rector will never love her at last; her obsession did end in tears. The various other potboilers proceeded apace, as they will in an English village; the various romances proceeded apace but not easily, and the various tempers flared and some cooled; others flared into misunderstandings.
All in all, normal life in a fictional English village.
"As the weeks roll by into summer and nerves tighten in anticipation of the great day, romances heat up and then cool down, tempers flare and misunderstandings multiply . . . "
~~back cover
I keep waiting for Craddock Fitch to get his comeuppance . . . but that hasn't happened yet. The rector and his wife have another tragic misunderstanding and she leaves, but all's well that ends well ... Louise is finally brought to her senses and finally understands that the rector will never love her at last; her obsession did end in tears. The various other potboilers proceeded apace, as they will in an English village; the various romances proceeded apace but not easily, and the various tempers flared and some cooled; others flared into misunderstandings.
All in all, normal life in a fictional English village.
March 3, 2024
Light and escapist, bur undeniably having some punch. This is not the saccharine love story of some fiction. It is grittier, without being too hard and ends up feeling very relevant. People are redeemed and see the better side of each other, What is not to like?
June 7, 2017
Great read
June 24, 2019
Another peaceful read. Perfect neighbors, perfect children, perfect gardens. Country fair? Everyone wins prizes. My description sounds saccharine and trite but the book is not.
January 28, 2020
Waited a long time to get this book, totally worth the wait. Love this series.
February 25, 2020
Not my favourite one of the turnham malpas series but still a good read. A bit of a slow read but the stories of some of the characters are good and interesting.
May 20, 2021
Light comfortable read. Like putting on an old comfy cardigan!
May 25, 2025
I am finding that personal opinions are unwelcome by Amazon / Goodreads so, make up your own mind and keep your opinion to yourself. Much safer.
April 2, 2012
Passions are running high in the little fictional village of Turnham Malpas when Craddock Fitch announces that he wishes to host the Village Show. Louise, the daughter of Sir Ronald and Lady Bissett, takes on the organisation of the event - but discovers that although her administrative and organisational skills in practical matters are exemplary, her social life is not so well ordered. She pursues one local resident, much to the disgust of the other locals; and makes herself Public Enemy Number One.
A former village-dweller returns, albeit briefly, but their appearance causes consternation for someone, with consequences that could have an effect on their marriage. Along with all this drama, there is a bit of a complication with the site of the Show - will it have to be called off at the last minute? And love is in the air for more than one happy couple in the village....
I love this series - it's my "perfect" escape, even though some of the characters drive me nuts at times. I look forward to returning to Turnham Malpas when I read the next instalment, Village Secrets.
A former village-dweller returns, albeit briefly, but their appearance causes consternation for someone, with consequences that could have an effect on their marriage. Along with all this drama, there is a bit of a complication with the site of the Show - will it have to be called off at the last minute? And love is in the air for more than one happy couple in the village....
I love this series - it's my "perfect" escape, even though some of the characters drive me nuts at times. I look forward to returning to Turnham Malpas when I read the next instalment, Village Secrets.
July 9, 2012
This book was lacking something and I'm not sure what.. Plus Muriel didn't have as much of a part in this novel it mainly focuses on Sheila and Rons daughter Louise and the surprise visit of a previous village tenant. This was also the first novel that didn't have a wedding in it which again made it feel like it was lacking something... All in all a must read, if you enjoy the series but i didn't think this was the strongest entry yet...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2014
This is a bit like an Agatha Raisin novel without any mystery or murder! The Village Show continues in the countrified soap opera style, with extreme predictability but quaint and relaxing escapism. I would give it 3.5 stars, but the sub-plot about Louise and a few repetitive colloquialisms got on my nerves rather. No surprises, but a quick and pleasant read.
December 31, 2017
Not the best in the series in my opinion
May 4, 2015
"The Show must go on!" Was surely the cry in Turnham Malpas! Passion abounds and love is found! Can't wait for my next installment from England!!
May 20, 2015
A good tale as always and not so much sickly sweet stuff from the vicar and his wife this time!
July 24, 2016
Yet another in the easy-to-read series. Entertaining. Quite nice to follow mostly the same characters through a long series of books.
September 11, 2018
Another brilliant addition to the Turnham Malpas saga
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews