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Handcuffs, Truncheon and a Polyester Thong

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Pub Date May 18 2017 | Archive Date May 25 2017


Description

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.

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...


Advance Praise

Will have you laughing out loud and is hugely entertaining. This is a book that oozes charisma and character, one you will not be able to put down. --Nikki's Books4U

Hilarious...real life and so touching, a fabulous read! --Christina Green

Will have you laughing out loud and is hugely entertaining. This is a book that oozes charisma and character, one you will not be able to put down. --Nikki's Books4U

Hilarious...real life and so...


Available Editions

EDITION Mass Market Paperback
ISBN 9781911331711
PRICE £7.99 (GBP)

Average rating from 10 members


Featured Reviews

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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