The best way to describe this book is a soap opera in words.
This is the 17th book in the series and I wait with baited breath from the finish of one book to the publication of the next.
All the books are set in the fictional village of Turham Malpas - think of a beautiful Midsomer Murders village without the murders !!
All the books are set in the fictional village of Turham Malpas - think of a beautiful Midsomer Murders village without the murders !!
Each book has a list of all the characters and what they do in the village and there is also a plan of the village, so you can see where everyone lives. I often refer to these guides as I am reading the books.
The main characters, this time, are Johnny Templeton (nephew of a former resident Sir Ralph),
and
Alice and Marcus March.
Alice is the village music teacher and her husband Marcus is writing a novel.
These are the two people I took my inspiration for my artwork.
The music paper, shaded in girly colours of Perfect Plum and Raspberry Ripple and some typed sheets to represent Marcus' writing.
Johnny, our newcomer, wants it all - the big house which belonged to his family for generations and the girl, even though she's already married. But to get them other people will have to loose them first.
Alice is fed up bankrolling Marcus, while he is trying to write the perfect novel.
I have to admit that this has been my least favourite book in the series, which was a bit of a shock as I have loved all the others. When I first started reading it, I thought that I had missed one out, but I hadn't (I did check). The story seemed to have jumped on quite a bit from the end of book number 16, A Village Deception.
All that said, I am now waiting with baited breath again for the next instalment.
Check out all the other reviews at Darcy's Blog.
Gah! that would so annoy me if the story jumped like that. Did they publish a "special" edition like an anniversary issue or Jubilee special?
ReplyDeleteLove the art panel, the shiny embossed music score :D XXX
It must feel by now like you really know all these characters :) sorry that this book wasn't as good as the rest. I like the rich colours of your music score
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame that this book has not grabbed you as much as the others. The others must really end with a need to read the next. Love your description of the village...Midsomer with out the murders. LOL Using the two characters for your inspiration in your art work certainly works well.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy the next one in the series.
oh how annoying to feel you missed a bit even though you didn't...maybe you should write a short story of your own to fill in the gap! How fun would that be you could include it with your artwork. I had never heard of the series, love the comparison to Midsummer Murders, love that show.
ReplyDeleteOh thanks for the review. I don't watch soap operas at all. However, I did read an historical series that was like a soap opera of the family through out the decades. I got to book 10 I think and it keeps on going lol I really like the art work and how this represents two characters Dxx
ReplyDeletegreat art for the book..
ReplyDeleteIt is such fun when you find a series that you truly love reading...oh! the anticipation :-)
ReplyDeleteOn your art piece, the music sheets look embossed. Love the way the notes appear to catch the light...pretty!
Sadly, I have never heard of Midsummer Murders, but I got the gist of your comparison, none-the-less. Sorry you didn't care for the book as much as some in the past, but it sounds like you know as much about the characters as the author does. Lovely artwork, too! I especially like what you did with the music notes.
ReplyDeleteSuch dedication reading all the series! There is nothing like village life to reflect the wider world. Your artwork is most original.
ReplyDeleteJanet xx
Wow, 17th book in the series? :) That's impressive. Glad you liked it.:)
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of the books but they sound delightful although can understand your frustration if it feels like a missed episode!
ReplyDeleteLove the way you came up with the idea for the artwork to represent the characters.
Catherine
I hate it when you have loved a series and then there is one dud... especially as you wait and wait for them to be released... hope the next one is back on track for you... happy reading and creating for next month...xx
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to make artwork for a book that doesn't meet expectations, but yours is great.
ReplyDeleteLove the art work!
ReplyDeleteI used to read this series (then passed the books on to my Mum) but gave up a few books ago as I felt the new ones just weren't up to scratch.
Sorry you were disappointed .
Hugs xx
It's not a series I'm familiar with but I do love a good series so I may have to give it a try especially when you mentioned you had enjoyed the others. It's a shame this one wasn't as good. Love the music score.
ReplyDeleteOh I hate when I've been waiting for a book and then it doesn't live up to expectations.
ReplyDeleteThe colours you've used on your music background is just lovely :-)
A shame you didn't enjoy this book as much as the rest. Love the colours in your artwork. x
ReplyDelete