Handcuffs, Truncheon and a Polyester Thong

Mavis is a young, single mum, and whilst out with her daughter one afternoon, suddenly has an epiphany. Mavis decides there and then that she wants to become a police officer. After filling out the forms, with the help of her hilarious mum, Mavis awaits her fate - and when she gets into the training program, can't believe what she's let herself in for. But she's determined, and as she embarks on the long, rigorous police training course, hilarious moments ensue.

And that's before she steps into the role. As Mavis navigates through the trials that await every new police officer - including some funny mishaps and initiations! - she tries not to let her guard down. But that's almost impossible for Mavis, who is partial to hilarious exploits, and constantly finds herself in embarrassing situations.

As the book goes on, Mavis works her way up through the ranks and years, taking on jobs that range from the downright silly to the highly emotional. Her daughter Ella is getting older, and after a few funny brushes with romance, Mavis finally finds a man that seems perfect for her. With her adoring Mum at her side, it seems as though life is going swimmingly. But then trouble unexpectedly hits their small, close family, and Mavis has to be stronger and braver than ever before.

This book has to be one of the best novels I have read so far. Yes, it's hilarious. In fact, it's so funny that I was giggling out loud numerous times whilst reading this. At 10% through this book it was already the funniest I had read this year. Gina Kirkham's humour is, in my opinion, the best kind; witty, a bit sarcastic, the ability to find the fun in every situation.

Mavis is such a great character. Not only is she someone you'd want to be around for the laughs, but she is strong, determined, and brave. I got that impression of her right away. She is ambitious, holding onto her dream, and even when things often went wrong in police training, Mavis laughed at herself and carried on. (Sorry. Have I mentioned JUST HOW MUCH I LOVE MAVIS?)

As an officer, Mavis is exposed to the funny side (there are plenty of hilarious stories involving thongs, blow-up dolls, drug raids...) and of course, the harrowing, emotional side to the job. As someone who has always secretly dreamed of being a police officer, I loved these chapters, and loved how Mavis reacted and grew as a character throughout her years in the police force. The book follows Mavis over a number of years, from trainee to experienced officer.

And then, the crying happened. I don't want to post spoilers, but there is a part of this book that is truly heartbreaking. It upset me as I read, as it is something that many people will have to go through, but Mavis remained positive throughout. I couldn't help but love her even more.

I find it hard to believe that this is a debut novel; Gina Kirkham is a fantastic writer. Handcuffs, Truncheon and a Polyester Thong may come across as a comedy, and it is - but it's so much more than that. This novel made me genuinely laugh and cry. It's a beautifully positive, uplifting tale full of emotion, warmth and humour, of an everyday woman who wants the best for herself and her family, and refuses to let anything - especially big knickers! - get in her way.

Right from the beginning, I knew I was going to love this book and I really did. It is hilarious! I laughed from the beginning until almost the end. Mavis is a fantastic character that is determined to not let anything beat her and she tries to carry on no matter what, and the results are oftentimes very funny. The ending is sad but hopeful. Mave is a single mom that wants to do better for both her and her daughter so she decides to apply to the police academy and surprisingly, she is accepted. Her fellow officers are quite a group of pranksters and the situations are too funny. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and really hope there are a lot more stories to be told of her adventures. The writing is very good, characters and situations are described in detail, I found tears rolling down my face from laughing so hard. .

I loved this. So very funny. The characters are believable and comedic.

I really do hope there is a follow up as suggested.

On an ordinary day, Mavis is out on a walk with her daughter, Ella, when she has an epiphany. It's time to make some changes to her life and fulfil a lifelong ambition of being a Police Officer. What could go wrong? Well, plenty actually as Mavis is a bit different and quite accident-prone. But she also has a big heart and is so incredibly likeable that you can't help but root for her every step of the way.

As I was looking for a book that would make me laugh, this one caught my eye. The title and the cover alone made me snort in the most unladylike manner. However, don't let the cover or the description fool you too much though. Yes, there is hilarity and I did laugh, out loud even, at times. However, there's a depth to this story that I wasn't really expecting, which was a truly nice surprise.

I warmed to Mavis instantly but the book is full of quirky, eccentric and funny characters. For me, the star of the show is Mavis' mum, whose malapropisms frequently made me chuckle, but who is also always there, right behind her daughter, supporting her along the way.

If you're looking for something a little different and maybe a wee quirky that will put a smile on your face but may also have you reaching for a tissue at some point, I have no doubt you will find this an enjoyable and entertaining read.

Many thanks to Urbane Publications and Netgalley for my advanced copy, which I chose to review.

I wanted an enjoyable read to make me smile- and boy was this the right book! Mavis has signed up to her dream job- the police force. Trouble is Mavis, although a good soul, is rather naive and hapless to start with. The book follows her journey in the job and the ups and downs of the force and her life. This is beautifully written so that you can see the escapades in your mind’s eye. A character you can warm to, smile with and feel the emotion of some of the situations she finds herself in. I smiled, I almost cried. I loved it!
I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

Published by: Urbane Publishing (18 May 2017)

ISBN: 978-1911331711

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 4*

Synopsis:
Meet Mavis Upton. As mummy to 7-year old Ella, surrogate to far too many pets and with a failed marriage under her belt, Mavis knows she needs to make some life-changing decisions. It's time to strike out into the world, to stand on her own two feet … to pursue a lifelong ambition to become a Police Officer. I mean, what could go wrong?

Supported by her quirky, malapropism-suffering mum, Mavis throws herself headlong into a world of uncertainty, self-discovery, fearless escapades, laughter and extra-large knickers. And using her newly discovered investigative skills, she reluctantly embarks on a search to find her errant dad who was last seen years before, making off with her mum's much needed coupon for a fabulous foam cup bra all the way from America.

Follow Mavis as she tackles everything life can throw at her, and revel in Gina Kirkham's humorous, poignant and moving story of an everyday girl who one day followed a dream.

Review:
Based on the author's experiences as a police officer, this book is funny yet touching in parts. Mavis herself is larger than life, getting herself into all sorts of mischief and is all the more likeable because of it. I'm not sure she's entirely believable, but that doesn't seem to matter one bit.

I like that we get to see both sides of Mavis - the police officer and the mum/daughter. Her interaction with her fellow officers is great, I love the banter; it's like taking a step back in time into one of the British comedies of yesteryear. The interaction with her mum is fantastic too, had me laughing out loud!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a giggle, likes humorous books and likes a moving story. Thanks to Matthew at Urbane Publications and NetGalley for providing an ARC in return for my honest review.

I can't believe this is a debut novel. It' such a good book.
The story of how a single mother decided to better the life for herself and her daughter by becoming a police officer.