It's a mix of mystery, British humour and thriller and it's just full of quintessential English eccentrism. But it's also a drama and a comedy, all the while remaining easy to read and thoroughly entertaining. My first read by Sue Clarke, but judging by my enjoyment of this, certainly not my last. It's a read full of great, well fleshed out, quirky characters and a past-paced storyline. It's genuine, real and hard to put down and I read this in two sittings. But it's also a book of depth and emotion, with a main theme that women "of a certain age" may find it difficult to find their place in the world or might feel left behind.

Patricia Lightowler is not having a good time of it. She’s lost her job and her husband has run off with a younger woman. A chance introduction to once upon a time celebrity author, Amanda Turner, seems to be the answer to her dream of becoming an author. She begins weekly lessons but is Amanda all that she seems and just what is her handyman up to? This is such a fun and easy read. As well as the humour and lightheartedness, there’s also a bit of a cosy mystery going on which adds a certain sort of intrigue. The characters are well drawn and the story flows along at a good pace. I liked the parts written in the voice of Trish’s alto ego, namely her mother, which give a great insight into Trish’s feelings and her inner turmoil. It’s perceptively written in its way with nods towards teenagers, the menopause and trying to find yourself again after motherhood and family matters. It’s an entertaining and amusing romp which I very much enjoyed.

This book was so quintessentially English and eccentric, it was a rip-roaring read! Part mid-life angst, part thriller/mystery, all entertainment. The two main characters, Trish and Amanda, are great foils for each other. Trish has always put everyone else first and taken up as little room as possible whereas Amanda demands all the oxygen and attention in any situation. Both women have not ended up where they thought they would and are now using very different approaches to changing their fortunes, with varying degrees of success. The cynical humour that Sue Clark uses throughout the book hits all the right notes, the quick wit of Trish and the pithy put-downs of Amanda had me giggling to myself as I read it. This book does have a serious message within its laughs - as we age, women find it difficult to see their worth and to define their place in a world that is hell-bent on making them more and more invisible. The world should take heed from this book and ignore women ‘of a certain age’ at its peril!