Wednesday 22 September 2021

Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce

 


 

This book is certainly eccentric.  I have never read anything quite like it.  But it is a great read.  One of the main protagonists is Miss Benson.  She didn't get a good start in life but her father showed her a picture of a golden beetle that no one had found and this changed the course of her life – not least because it happened just before the poor man topped himself.

 

The other main character if Enid Pretty – an amazing character – talks nine to the dozen, caring and tarty.  She ends up being Miss Benson's assistant on their trip to New Caledonia to hunt for the beetle.  This was an amazing trip for 2 women to undertake in 1950.

 

You will want to know what happened and also what Enid's back story is.  This book is not all hearts and flowers but it is terrifically funny at times.  I recommend it to you.

 

One story line didn't appeal to me – a released Prisoner of War gloms on to Miss Benson and basically acts like a crazed stalker – the book would have been better without him – but that's just my opinion.

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