Product Description

'You wouldn't take on a cleaner without checking out their references. What possessed you to do it with a husband?' When Mel, an Australian abroad, falls in love with Rufus, the archetypal Englishman, she has no idea what she's letting herself in for. But it is only when their azure Mediterranean courtship is transported to the green fields of England that Melody's doubts set in. For Rufus is heir to the thousand-year-old Bourton Allhallows estate, and Melody is soon painfully aware that, in his family's eyes, an antipodean backpacker is far from the ideal wife. Trapped in a way of life she assumed had long vanished - awash in a stew of formal meals, unhampered snobbery, incomprehensible rules and crumbling masonry - Melody begins to fear for the future of her marriage. And when ancient and not-so-ancient secrets begin to emerge, she faces the disturbing realization that the stakes are far, far higher than she'd imagined...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #227519 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

Review
"Imagine a modern-day Rebecca, mixed with a suspense-filled Gothic novel and served up with generous helpings of wit -- a real treat."
-"Sunday Independent"
"A very funny novel about love, friendship, revenge and finding yourself."
-"Daily Express"

You Magazine
'Giggle aloud social comedy'

From the Publisher
A STUNNING COMIC TOUR DE FORCE FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE TEMP

Customer Reviews

A bit of everything
Brilliant read. Funny and sad. Couldn't put it down. Stayed up til 2.30 in the morning to finish this one and boy, was I tired the next day!
Melody, a greek/australian on her travels meets Rufus, a real plum in the mouth Englishman, when she saves his life in Gozo. Fall in love and marry within weeks. Then he takes her home to England and is she in for a shock!!!

Simply worth waiting for!
I didn't realise how long I'd been waiting for this book until I finally got my hands on a copy and started reading. 'The Temp' is one of my favourite books and 'Virtue' stood out for its lack of 'romance' in the young female protagonist books market. The style of writing is unmistakably Serena Mackesy and I couldn't put the book down. In fact, I nearly froze at the bus stop last night trying to finish it! I really identified with Melody and all she goes through. Having recently been introduced to 'The Sopranos' as a good way of understanding my partner's relationship with his family(!), it had a particular resonance for me. It also made me laugh out loud a few times and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a great read.

Don't call it chicklit
I am not sure if the 'difficult third album' rule applies to novels; the fact that we've been waiting for this book for a few years suggests that it may. However the book was definitely worth the wait.

At first glance, the plot (girl-meets-young-male-country gent but is not accepted by his family) is scarcely promising. But the book transcends this and manages to be interesting, funny and (somehow) original.

The secret is that Ms Mackesy can write proper English that engages the reader and her observations of life are excellent.

Perhaps the best praise I can give to this book is that I find myself being mildly irritated that people call it 'chicklit' (even upmarket chicklit). It's better than that.