Written by Samantha Henthorn⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
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My thanks once again to author Samantha Henthorn, for a free digital copy of Edna and Genevieve Escape from Curmudgeon Avenue to review. This is the third book in the #CurmudgeonAvenuebooks series that I've been privileged to be asked to review, and follows on from The Harold and Edith Adventures.
You'll find a short extract after my review, which I'm sure you'll enjoy.
You'll find a short extract after my review, which I'm sure you'll enjoy.
The blurb:
Meanwhile, we return to Curmudgeon Avenue for the third time, the wind had blown in the truth about the tall, handsome stranger and although Harold and Edith had been relieved to discover that he is neither an elephant detective, nor a fraud investigator, Toonan had been a little disappointed that he was not interested in her either. Matteo Dubois was looking for his mother, Genevieve Dubois, and although he did not find her on Curmudgeon Avenue, you have probably guessed that he is about to cause a disturbance- FINALLY!
There is hope that the set of nincompoops that live here currently will move out, and leave me in peace! Edna had already escaped with Genevieve to France, which was a real shame for us because Edna was one of the less annoying ones. This delightful comedy romance is the third book in the Curmudgeon Avenue will make you smile.
contemporary fiction
Humour
My thoughts:
This is the book I was most looking forward to reading. Book One, Curmudgeon Avenue (#1 The Terraced House Diaries) develops the characters, and tells the story in the style of "Well, it's like this now, and I'll tell you how it got that way later", which left me with lots of unanswered questions about Edna and Genevieve - although mostly about Genevieve!Book Two, The Harold and Edith Adventures: Curmudgeon Avenue Book Two concentrates mainly on the lives of Harold and Edith, as you'd expect, but it also drops in snippets of information about Edna and Genevieve, leaving me anxious to get to Book Three, and hopefully find out what Genevieve is all about.
Throughout Books One and Two, I have quite taken against Edith's self-centred husband, Harold Goatshead, and her repugnant son, Ricky Ricketts, and hoped that a suitable fate awaited both in Book Three. I have also become deeply suspicious of Genevieve - the lady was hiding something, and I hoped that would be revealed soon, so that I could decide whether to love or loathe her. Edna and Edith, whilst chalk and cheese, both had their redeeming features, and I felt they deserved better than they were getting up to this point. Probably for all the wrong reasons, I am also rather fond of Patchouli and her daughters, Toonan and Wantha.
So now to Book Three!
Once again the cover is simple but enticing. The house, Number One Curmudgeon Avenue, continues to narrate the story, despite a lot of the action, this time, taking place in France.
The story is split between Edna and Genevieve's activities in France, and the domesticity of the occupants and visitors to Number One.
In this story we discover that Genevieve bears an uncanny resemblance to Joanna Lumley, and she (Genevieve, not Lumley) is on the run from her past. She and Edna are now in France, staying at Château Le Grincheaux, where their hosts are a Scottish couple, Diane and Jackson Bove.
There are several farcical moments concerning the Boves interactions with Edna and Genevieve. Like any other guesthouse proprietors, they are there to accommodate their guests, but not to be swamped by them. I smiled at the manner Diane firmly requested an anniversary gift to support Jackson's fib, and could imagine their brains ticking over when they thought Genevieve might have murdered Edna.
The more I learned about the self-serving Genevieve, the more I disliked her. Although I felt for Edna, I was glad when Genevieve was finally unmasked.
Back on Curmudgeon Avenue, Ricky Ricketts has a new, and very pregnant girlfriend, Gemma Hampsons. Gemma is the journalist who, in Book Two, covered the pub quiz where Harold proposed to Edith. She's a scheming little madam too, but Patchouli and Mrs Ali are onto her. And the lovesick Wantha is determined to get Ricky to come back to her.
New to Curmudgeon Avenue is the 'tall, handsome man who drives a well fancy car' who we now know to be Genevieve's adopted son, Matteo Dubois. He has bought Number Three, next door to Harold and Edith. He is having it renovated, and turned back into a shop by Ricky Rickets and his pal Harry. Matteo is aware that Mrs Ali owns 'the most popular shop in Whitefield' and that she is not pleased at the prospect of another shop competing for business in the area. Matteo has been giving the impression he will be opening a grocery store just to annoy Mrs Ali. He is in fact opening a delicatessen.
There are a few new characters and a number of threads to keep track of during this zany story, but it's worth it. Small Paul is quietly standing out as a bit of a hero.
Edna and Genevieve Escape from Curmudgeon Avenue did not end in the manner I had anticipated. The twist in this tale came out of nowhere, and left me gobsmacked.
At the end of the book there is the first chapter of Book Four, The Ghosts of Curmudgeon Avenue, which looks like being another rip-roaring good read.
Whilst this book could be read as a standalone, I would advise readers to read the series in the order it was written, for the full background to the story and the characters. I now await Book Four...
Enjoy this short extract from Chapter 13
‘Get out of the car’ Diane swung the car door open at the other side, Genevieve’s mouth formed an amused ‘O’shape.
‘I’m sorry?’ Edna said indignantly raising her shoulders.
‘Let me handle this’ Jackson gently pulled his wife away.
‘Psst, psst’ Genevieve beckoned Diane over to her sun lounger, ‘I, erm I really don’t wish to go on a day trip today, I have been feeling unwell. I would rather stay ‘ere’
‘Well, yes, look I’m sorry I just, I just well, I just wanted a day out with Jackson’
‘Of course mon amie, of course’
‘Well, how are we going to.. Oh! Here she comes now!’
Edna came skipping over towards Genevieve and Diane, as Jackson stood next to the car, grinning. She put both her arms around Diane and kissed her on both cheeks. Genevieve nodded at Diane as if to say ‘make a dash for it while you can’ Diane made her way to the car.
‘I don’t know what you said to Edna, but well done husband’ Diane enthused.
‘Well, I told a wee fib. I told her that it’s our anniversary’
‘Oh, well then! I’ll be wanting an anniversary present!’
‘Aye, I’ll probably have to buy you one, especially as I’ve promised we would take them back to Rocamadour next week, after we have sampled the most romantic places!’
| Author Bio – Samantha Henthorn |
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 Samantha Henthorn was born in 1970-something in Bury, England. She has had short stories and poetry published in magazines. Her books include the Curmudgeon Avenue series (The Terraced House Diaries and The Harold and Edith adventures). '1962', 'Quirky Tales to Make Your Day' and 'Piccalilly' She has two cats, one dog, one gorgeous grown up daughter and one husband. When not reading or writing, she is listening to heavy metal and would be thrilled to bits if someone read her books. |
| Social Media Links – | |
| Web site | https://samanthahenthornfindstherightwords.blog |
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Thank you! You're right, Small Paul is a hero!
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