Trouble In Paradise
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Product Description
Book Description
The third in Chip Granger's acclaimed Soho series of novels opens as the Second World War ends - and hostilities begin in Paradise Gardens.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
It is 1945, and all over England people are looking forward to being at peace again. Except for one woman. For recently married Zelda, peace means the return of her husband, and this is bad news indeed. Zelda has had to marry Charlie Fluck because she was pregnant by him. And the Fluck clan are backed by the unsavoury Holes, at the centre of whose criminal empire sits Ma Hole like a large malevolent toad.
Not only is Zelda frightened of her husband - and she has reason to be, having lost her baby due to a bad 'fall' when Charlie pushed her down the stairs - but so is her good friend, Zinnia Makepeace, local midwife, herbalist, wise woman and layer out of bodies. Her house fronts Paradise Gardens, and she has the choicest of garden allotments - both of which Ma Hole is determined to have at any cost.
Meanwhile young Tony, Zelda's nephew, is going off the rails. His dad's missing, presumed dead, his mum is in a state, and he's running wild with Bung 'Ole, or Brian Hole as his police records call him. But Tony can sing. He has, in fact, the voice of an angel. So Zelda arranges for Tony to have singing lessons to straighten him out - and this takes her to Soho, where she meets Maggie and Bert Fetherby who run a cheerful and very busy café in Old Compton Street.
When Zelda reads Maggie's cards, and tells her that she can see a baby, she is unprepared for the tears that follow. For Maggie has always wanted a baby, and it seems that this is the one thing that she and Bert cannot have. Zelda knows there's a solution - but she has reckoned without the trouble now raging back in Paradise Gardens...
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
__________________________
WWII's coming to a close for the London's East End. Zelda's life is bound up with her nearby family in Paradise Gardens: Mom, Dad, spunky Gran, sisters Vi and Doris, and their sons Reggie and Tony. Shortages, make-do and mend, ration books, barter make up every day life. Sunday dinner gathered round Mom's table where Dad speaks his opinions on family behaviour.
Mom's best friend Zinnia Makepiece looks after the bodies and minds of her neighbours with appropriate herbs in this pre-NHS world. Zelda's best friend Dilly's seeing a Yank.
Ma Hole's the local gangster and son Brian's a willing apprentice. Zelda and her family's efforts to keep Tony away from Brian are not working.
But Zelda's big worry is the eventual return of her violent husband Charlie. Married young to avoid shame of a pregnancy, neither is happy. But Dad's strong beliefs in a woman's duty to her husband have kept Zelda tied to Charlie.
The story rattles along at a quick pace, un-put-downable as you follow Zelda from work to home, sit at the kitchen table with a cup of tea during one of the frequent visits to and fro, listen to her dreams, share her worries and hope a solution to her marriage and Tony's troubles come soon.
I very much enjoyed this book and look forward to meeting Ms Granger's next books.
_______________________
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have read all of Pip Grangers three books now - they are all fantastic in my opinion.
I do not usually read this type of book instead sticking to thrillers and horrors but I love children and was tempted by the saga of young Rosie. I brought both Apples are not the only tarts and The Window Ginger and read them one after another and after loving them sort out the other book.
Although Trouble in Paradise was written after the other two it goes back to before Rosie was born so I suggest reading this book first and then the other two will follow on nicely.
Cannot wait for Pip's next novel - hope it's out very soon!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
pip of a historical character study
18 Nov 2004
Format:Hardcover
Most English are euphoric and celebrated the victory ending World War II. However, Zelda feels the war was a time of personal freedom and safety even when the Blitz terrorized much of the country. Her friend Dilly assumes that Zeld seems depressed because she never felt the impact of war since her Paradise Garden was untouched. Zeld knows that the Hitler's throwing in the towel means her violent spouse Charlie is returning to abuse her.
The return of the vets impacts the workplace. New bosses place unreasonable demands on the "temporary" female replacement employees and returning soldiers are displacing women on the job. Thugs battle to take control of gangs with bystanders like Zeld's nephew Tony pulled to join or else. Healer Zinnia Makepeace obtaining singing lessons for Tony in Soho enables Zeld to meet Bert and Maggie Featherby. They provide an opportunity to escape her miserable life if she is courageous enough to leave Charlie.
This is a terrific prequel to the fabulous NOT ALL TARTS ARE APPLE as Pip Granger paints quite a different panorama than the normal upbeat England of 1946. The story line uses the characters to provide insight as the war years simply are pushed aside by those who believe a return to normalcy ignores that women proved that they were the greatest generation; Like World War I did for third world people under European rule, World War II did for women; the legacy is their daughters and younger sisters becoming Supreme Court Justices and Prime Ministers. TROUBLE IN PARADISE is a pip of a historical character study that will have fans searching for more works by Ms. Granger.
Harriet Klausner
The return of the vets impacts the workplace. New bosses place unreasonable demands on the "temporary" female replacement employees and returning soldiers are displacing women on the job. Thugs battle to take control of gangs with bystanders like Zeld's nephew Tony pulled to join or else. Healer Zinnia Makepeace obtaining singing lessons for Tony in Soho enables Zeld to meet Bert and Maggie Featherby. They provide an opportunity to escape her miserable life if she is courageous enough to leave Charlie.
This is a terrific prequel to the fabulous NOT ALL TARTS ARE APPLE as Pip Granger paints quite a different panorama than the normal upbeat England of 1946. The story line uses the characters to provide insight as the war years simply are pushed aside by those who believe a return to normalcy ignores that women proved that they were the greatest generation; Like World War I did for third world people under European rule, World War II did for women; the legacy is their daughters and younger sisters becoming Supreme Court Justices and Prime Ministers. TROUBLE IN PARADISE is a pip of a historical character study that will have fans searching for more works by Ms. Granger.
Harriet Klausner
Another Wonderful Novel From Granger
12 Oct 2005
Format:Hardcover
The 1st novel I read of hers was "Not All Tarts Are Apple". Granger just has this certain 'way' of really pulling the reader into the novel.
It's told from Zelda's point of view. Set in London amidst WWII, Granger intricately weaves us a tale of family & neighbors within the quaint, zany community of Paradise Gardens. Everyone is in everyone else's business & there's never a dull moment within the confines of Paradise Gardens.
Lol, I am learning so much about UK/London dialect from reading her novels!
This is a charming novel that preceeds the story from "..Tarts..".
It's told from Zelda's point of view. Set in London amidst WWII, Granger intricately weaves us a tale of family & neighbors within the quaint, zany community of Paradise Gardens. Everyone is in everyone else's business & there's never a dull moment within the confines of Paradise Gardens.
Lol, I am learning so much about UK/London dialect from reading her novels!
This is a charming novel that preceeds the story from "..Tarts..".
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