Trouble
in Paradise
By
Pip Granger
The end
of the Blitz and World War II should have brought peace and tranquility
to the residents of Paradise Gardens, Hackney, London, but it is
not good news for Zelda Fluck. It means that her violent and abusive
husband, Charlie, will be coming home. The residents of Paradise
Gardens, Hackney, are caught up in a chain of events which cause
strife and destruction.
In addition to her belligerent
husband, Zelda has problems with her boss who is making her life
difficult, and she has worries about her nephew, Tony, who is becoming
involved with Brian Hole, the only child of Ma Hole, leader of the
local spivs. Tony has a beautiful voice. The mysterious local healer,
Zinnia Makepeace, introduces him to a vocal coach in Soho, hoping
rescuing him from a life of crime with Brian. Through this change
Zelda meets Bert and Maggie Featherby who give her an opportunity
to escape Hackney and her failed marriage. To complicate matters,
the local hood, Maltese Joe, decides to confront Ma Hole and this
ends in a rain of gunfire with Cassie giving birth to Rosie, the
future narrator of Not All Tarts are Apples.
Once again, Granger has
successfully evoked the spirit of the people and times. There is
a vivid picture of the lives of the people in Soho and their problems
and their attempts to solve them. The dialogue is written in a way
that sounds real. The plot is well written and the action moves
smoothly and quickly. The characters are well developed, giving
the reader a feeling of relating to them and their experiences.
There are glimpses of humor and wit to counter the grim realities.
A truly heart-warming story of people overcoming
adversity
|
The
Book |
Poisoned Pen Press |
Jan 2005 |
Hardcover |
159081318 |
Genre Mystery |
More
at Amazon.com |
Excerpt
|
NOTE:
|
The
Reviewer |
Barbara Buhrer |
Reviewed
2005 |
NOTE:
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