A Helping Hand

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The darkest of dark humour in this story introduces me to the mind of celia dale + early 1960's England as two villainous characters swindle old ladies out of their meagre assets. The seedy nature of their enterprise finds Maisie + Josh Evans taking elderly Flo into their home + quickly manipulating her into a grim life trapped in her bedroom. The image of Josh creating his scrapbook will stay with me for a while. Bleak but bizarrely I loved it.

LeahBergen Great review, Andrew. I loved it, too! 4w

Tamra Echo @LeahBergen 4w

Cathythoughts I also loved it 👍🏻 4w

49 likes3 comments

Tamra

A Helping Hand | Celia Dale

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A twisty little tale of avarice. 🖤

This was “fun”, but didn‘t have the humor of Fremlin. Fremlin can be downright funny & sharp witted. I need more Fremlin in my life!

LeahBergen I found this, too; she‘s Fremlin-esque but not quite Fremlin enough. 🤣 10mo

Tamra @LeahBergen 😂 indeed! 10mo

49 likes2 comments

Tamra

A Helping Hand | Celia Dale

Why yes this edition IS before my time. ☺️ Makes me feel young! I guess I‘m lucky my library system still has a copy to circulate.

By the way, I have 5 library books checked out and it makes me anxious, which is completely irrational. It reminds me though why I shouldn‘t order any while I have one checked out. It‘s also why I prefer to buy so I can hoard them on my shelf. 😜

LeahBergen This is a fun one! 10mo

Tamra @LeahBergen it sounds like classic mystery fun - inspired by @Cathythoughts. 10mo

Ruthiella I understand your anxiety. It‘s a balancing act! Owned vs library… 10mo

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Cathythoughts That‘s a great old date on the book 😁👍🏻I think you‘ll like it. @LeahBergen put me on to it. ♥️ 10mo

Tamra @Cathythoughts @LeahBergen the world of Litsy! 💙 10mo

Tamra @Ruthiella 😅 10mo

59 likes6 comments

Lesliereadsalot

A Helping Hand | Celia Dale

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Really liked this short book about a couple who take in an elderly, lonely and wealthy woman, seemingly to get her money. They‘ve done this before and the pages kept turning quickly as I wanted to find out how this would shake out. Then a surprise ending!

Cathythoughts

Cathythoughts Oh that‘s great you liked it. 👏🏻❤️ I want to read more by her. 10mo

Cathythoughts That ending was definitely a surprise 😁 10mo

bthegood sounds interesting - tagged - thanks for the review 🙂 10mo

16 likes3 comments

Cathythoughts

A Helping Hand | Celia Dale

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Maisie and Josh have a spare room in their house. They have taken in an older lady, as a paying guest…. Let‘s just say the way they make their way in the world is quite disturbing.
I really enjoyed this one and want to read more by Celia Dale. Thanks @LeahBergen for your posting this. It caught my interest and it was so good 👍🏻♥️

Tamra I have it stacked! Looking forward to it. 11mo

Lesliereadsalot Sounds intriguing! 11mo

LeahBergen It was a fun one, wasn‘t it? I‘ve bought two more of her books. 😆 11mo

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Cathythoughts @Tamra I loved it. It‘s sad too , but fun as well. 11mo

Cathythoughts @Lesliereadsalot It‘s very good ! I‘m looking up more by her ♥️ 11mo

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen I thoroughly enjoyed it. I must get more of her too 👍🏻♥️ 11mo

batsy I have it stacked, as well ?? "Disturbing" always piques my interest ? 11mo

emmasm08 I like the sound of that ! ❤️ 11mo

Cathythoughts @batsy Yes ! Me too 😆 11mo

Cathythoughts @emmasm08 It‘s good Emma 👍🏻❤️ 11mo

emmasm08 ❤️ 11mo

70 likes3 stack adds11 comments

LeahBergen

A Helping Hand | Celia Dale

Friday night reads!

I‘m loving my first Celia Dale. 👍

vivastory I like your style 🍷 12mo

BarbaraBB Your night looks so good! 🥰 12mo

LeahBergen @vivastory @BarbaraBB Cheers, you two! 🍷 12mo

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Cathythoughts This sounds good. I look forward to your thoughts X 12mo

Tamra Is it reminiscent of 💙Fremlin? 12mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I think you might really like this one, Cathy! 12mo

LeahBergen @Tamra It is, so far! 12mo

Cathythoughts Just ordered it 👍🏻😁 12mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts oh, good! 😆 12mo

79 likes9 comments

Oryx

A Helping Hand | Celia Dale

On the way back from a wee trip to London. Managed to squeeze in one teeny tiny book purchase

squirrelbrain Sounds good, and I love the cover! 2y

48 likes1 stack add1 comment

LeahBergen

A Helping Hand | Celia Dale

Daunt Books has just rereleased this forgotten 1966 novel of suspense.

Josh and Maisie Evans like to lend a helping hand to vulnerable older women (especially those with no one else to turn to). When their elderly lodger, Flo, dies and leaves them her estate they take themselves to Italy for a holiday. There they meet Mrs. Fingal, a wealthy widow, and decide to lend a helping hand again…

jlhammar Oooh, this sounds good. Love the photo! 2y

Aims42 Love that purse 😍 I have my grandmother‘s purse from the 1950‘s that I bring out sometimes. Such a classic, timeless style 2y

LeahBergen @jlhammar Thanks! 😘 2y

See All 13 Comments

LeahBergen @Aims42 Thank you! I have a few vintage bags. My faves are some 1960s clutches from my Mom and my mother-in-law. I trot those out whenever I have an evening affair to attend. 😆 2y

Tamra I‘m intrigued! 2y

Leftcoastzen 👍👏👜❤️ 2y

Cathythoughts Great! Loving the bag ♥️ and stacking the book 👍🏻 2y

batsy Ooh I just added this to the list the other day! Love the photo & bag 🖤 2y

LeahBergen @Tamra Me, too! 2y

LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen Thanks! 😆 2y

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @batsy I‘m thinking this might be our kind of read. 😄 2y

rubyslippersreads Bags like that make me think of The Queen. 2y

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Me, too! 2y

75 likes3 stack adds13 comments

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