Miss Benson's Beetle

By: Rachel Joyce

Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson

Brought to you by Penguin.

It is 1950. In a devastating moment of clarity, Margery Benson abandons her dead-end job and advertises for an assistant to accompany her on an expedition. She is going to travel to the other side of the world to search for a beetle that may or may not exist.

Enid Pretty, in her unlikely pink travel suit, is not the companion Margery had in mind. And yet together they will be drawn into an adventure that will exceed every expectation. They will risk everything, break all the rules, and at the top of a red mountain, discover their best selves.

This is a story that is less about what can be found than the belief it might be found; it is an intoxicating adventure story but it is also about what it means to be a woman and a tender exploration of a friendship that defies all boundaries.

©2020 Rachel Joyce (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

Unmissable fiction from an award-winning author: an unlikely pair embark on a grand adventure in this glorious novel about second chances, heartfelt friendships and emotional courage. (Eithne Farry)

A girl's own adventure...This is Rachel Joyce's best book yet ...Exciting, moving and full of unexpected turns... surely this is the one that will propel the intrepid Joyce off the long and shortlists into prizewinning territory. (Melissa Katsoulis)

A joy of a novel, with real insight into the lives of women, the value of friendship and the lasting effects of war (Katy Guest)

Absolutely wonderful!

I loved the narration, it was excellently produced and kept me interested to the very end. I think it is a good story for many ages and I will definitely recommend it to my sister to have a listen. Thank you!

BEST EVER!

I absolutely loved every moment of this delightful, sensitive beautiful unusual adventure story. The snipbits of humor that sneaked in so unexpectedly gave such depth and interest to this great story. I felt lost when it ended.. BRAVO 👏 to Rachel Joyce and Juliet Stevenson

Wonderful

Heartwarming, funny and engaging. I absolutely loved the story, and the narrator is brilliant, lending real depth to each character.

A weird but captivating listen...

I was looking for another book read by Julie Stevenson & came across "Miss Benson's Beetle". It's nothing like I've ever listened to before & for a while I couldn't decide whether I should push forward or return the book. The main character is far from anything /anyone I could identify with, but the characters & storyline became entriquing & I pushed on. Excellent narration & in the end such lovely character development. Nothing predictable about this read but one that you won't easel forget.

What a delight

The narration and performance were faultless; the story beautiful and poignant. I loved every word.

Delightful

A delightful book. Thank you Rachel Joyce and Juliet Stevenson. Gentle, funny and sad. Recommend.

Women power

This has just about everything but above all it’s about women power. We women can do everything we set our mind to even though we never thought we ever wanted or needed to. We can deal with whatever comes our way. especially with a little help from each other.

Uplifting but not amazing

This book didn’t come up in my Recommended For You list, so it was not something I’d probably go for. I saw it in the recent releases and it caught my attention because of all the amazing reviews. It’s a little outside of my usual reading matter, but I took a gamble because I had just finished a series of books that had been pretty grim and violent and I felt I needed some light relief. And Miss Benson’s Beetle did provide that relief. It was an uplifting book that didn’t take itself too seriously. Some reviewers have said it was a bit silly and far fetched, and yes it is a bit like that, but only if you expect it to take itself seriously! The narration is quite good, and the writing actually feels like a children’s book sometimes, in the way some lines are written and delivered. But that makes the book feel quite charming.
Overall it was a pleasant listen but not hugely engaging, and there were flaws here and there, and I understand how some listeners might criticise the inclusion of the Mr Mundic character. I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending either. But really, it was a pleasant diversion from the genres I usually go for, and now I’m refreshed and ready to tackle my usual fare.

An exceptional story and narrator.

10 out of 10 for possibly one of the best narrators I've ever heard.
Do not hesitate listening to this story.
I will recommend it to every person who listens to audible. Congratulations with this stunning project!

A teriffic read

A delightful imaginative story with wonderfully eccentric characters. Superbly narrated.
Enjoyed it very much.