‘[Gervase Phinn is] a worthy successor to James Herriott, and every bit as endearing.’ – bestselling author Alan Titchmarsh
‘It’s a small village is Barton-in-the-Dale, Mrs Stirling,’ said the shopkeeper. ‘You ought to know that by now. Nothing can be kept secret for too long. News travels fast.’
In the little village of Barton-in-the-Dale, long-hidden secrets are bubbling to the surface. Ashley Underwood and Emmet O’Malley are set to tie the knot, when a revelation from the handsome Irishman’s past returns to haunt him. The town’s resident nosey-parker discovers some juicy gossip about the primary school’s dishy new staff-member, and head teacher Elisabeth Stirling has a very special secret of her own.
As the wedding day draws closer, brewing secrets threaten to boil over. But along with the skeletons tumbling out of the closet comes plenty of laughter, drama, friendship and love. One thing’s for sure: for some, life in Barton-in-the-Dale will never be the same again.
(P) 2016 Isis Publishing
‘It’s a small village is Barton-in-the-Dale, Mrs Stirling,’ said the shopkeeper. ‘You ought to know that by now. Nothing can be kept secret for too long. News travels fast.’
In the little village of Barton-in-the-Dale, long-hidden secrets are bubbling to the surface. Ashley Underwood and Emmet O’Malley are set to tie the knot, when a revelation from the handsome Irishman’s past returns to haunt him. The town’s resident nosey-parker discovers some juicy gossip about the primary school’s dishy new staff-member, and head teacher Elisabeth Stirling has a very special secret of her own.
As the wedding day draws closer, brewing secrets threaten to boil over. But along with the skeletons tumbling out of the closet comes plenty of laughter, drama, friendship and love. One thing’s for sure: for some, life in Barton-in-the-Dale will never be the same again.
(P) 2016 Isis Publishing
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Reviews
Packed with delightful and authentic characters, juicy gossip, precarious romance and good old-fashioned village drama, this is a warm-hearted and hilarious account of a struggling school in a small community.
A worthy successor to James Herriot, and every bit as endearing.
Written with all the humour and warmth one has come to expect from this master storyteller.
As Yorkshire's favourite school inspector turns to fiction you can enjoy memorable characters and turns of phrase.
PRAISE FOR GERVASE PHINN:
When Gervase Phinn receives his peerage for services to good-heartedness, this will be the motto on his coat of arms: "Ex silvis sed non supra montem." . . . This entertaining and moving homework earns a good few merit marks. Gervase Phinn is not going downhill yet, by a long chalk on a blackboard.
