The Corner Shop

By: Elizabeth Cadell

Narrated by: Helen Taylor

Lucille Abbey runs her London secretarial agency with utmost efficiency. When, therefore, a certain Professor Hallam rejects three girls sent by her to apply for the post of his secretary and they each pronounce him “impossible”, Lucille herself sets out to interview the Professor at his home in Hampshire. He is, she finds, eccentric—even impossible; but he represents a challenge and, what is more, an excuse to delay what promises to be a trying holiday in Paris. She stays on to tame and to organize him—a less formidable task than she had imagined; in fact, she grows fond of him. But the atmosphere is somewhat disturbed first by the arrival of a debonair French art expert in search of paintings left to the Professor by his mother, and the next by a hysterical girl on the track of her runaway fiancé. The paintings have unaccountably disappeared; the mystery is still unsolved by the time Lucille’s work for the Professor comes to an end and she has to set off for Paris. At her aunt’s shop in the Rue des Dames, the arrival there of the indomitable art expert, the hysterical girl, the Professor, and a persistent suitor to boot, throw Lucille’s normally orderly life into complete upheaval.

*Note, these titles contain the original, unabridged, text exactly as the author first wrote it. Many later editions of Elizabeth Cadell's works were heavily abridged or changed. We hope you enjoy the re-issue of these timeless books. Watch for more to come in the near future!

©1966, 2016 Elizabeth Cadell (P)2016 Janet Reynolds

Mystery, Romance & Humor

This one is set back I believe in the early to mid 1900's in England and France- not during war time. A young divorced woman finds herself stuck helping a professor who seems to be more then a bit lost in the world of social conventions. While helping him she finds herself puzzled by a mystery of his deceased mother's missing paintings. The story has some very out going and entertaining characters that enter the scenery and really liven up the story. I found myself laughing out loud several times. It was a very clean read and the narrator did a great job. My only complaint was the narrator was a bit slower then I like but I found it did help to speed it up to 1.25.—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Just So Charming

If you need a break from the miseries of the modern world, treat yourself to a book by Elizabeth Cadell. You’ll be gently carried back to England in the mid-twentieth century, when life felt much less complicated. It’s a delight to return to this era via Ms. Cadell’s charming, clever stories. This is not “serious “ literature addressing the ugly challenges that did exist back then; it is a fun, sweet, light-hearted romp designed to make you feel good. Enjoy!

Disappointing

I don’t know what else to say. I was disappointed. I wanted to see change come about in the characters. I needed more depth to the characters both in their personalities and their motivations. The ending was just dull. The storyteller was fine. Not the way I would have read it though. The French accent of the French art dealer was hard to listen to, but so few nail that accent.

Why isn't this book a series?

Without an ounce of hyperbole, this book was sensational!! When it ended, I nearly cried. There wasn't another book to give me another way back into this world and these people, and that is a bad thing.

Lucille and Professor Hallam were a joy to get to know. Her want of order and his total disregard of said was so well-written, and heartwarming, and funny. The exchange they had in the shop, then the car, and on to the restaurant was hysterical. I don't know when I have enjoyed an exchange so much.

I can't say enough about how phenominal the narration is. The book is incredible and the narration kept pace.

There was a wonderful twist at the end that solved the variety of mysteries taking place throughout. All of the characters were so fun (well, except for the aunt) that I seriously hated for this listen to end.

Totally delightful!

Thoroughly pleasant enjoyable listen to. I enjoyed every minute in the country and in Paris. The narrator Helen Taylor brought the story to life. I’m new to this author but will be reading and listening to more of her stories.

"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."