Available for the first time on Kindle! 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 … 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!
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Excellent book by a great writer, She has over 50 titles available. Check out her other books.
I am a fan of all of Elizabeth Cadell’s books, so I was excited to see this offered as a Bookbub deal! The Corner Shop is just charming. The characters are unusual, but they feel real. And the story will make you smile and maybe sigh a little that it came to an end.
It was just a fun story! I liked the main characters and enjoyed the adventure.
fun period piece
Fun, and entertaining stress reliever!
A most entertaining book with many surprises. I enjoyed it.
Lucille Abbey owns a secretarial service, hiring only the most competent and professional women. She is surprised then when three of her best secretaries return after working only one day for Professor Hallam. Lucille wants to know why her placements hadn’t worked out. So begins a charming and delightful tale. Initially events are almost as ridiculous as the Keystone Kops routine as Lucille takes cabs, trains, buses, and finally her feet to reach the Professor’s hilltop mansion. The story unfolds as thefts and possible villains show up, both in England and Paris. I can strongly recommend this book.
I enjoyed this book although predictable it portrayed the places & characters well.
Set probably in the 1940s or 1950s England and Paris, this is romantic suspense that is entertaining. What’s bizarre is the woman’s choice in almost fiancé. It’s a good yarn with enough sculduggery to keep it interesting
Heart-warming mystery.
Absolutely delightful and intricate enough that the ending was satisfying
Very enjoyable story, had me laughing out loud in the car!
For fans of old-style rom-coms. Quirky puzzle.
I read this book hoping for a reprieve from the pandemic/political blues. I found it! Written in the 1960’s, it’s a mystery, romance, comedy, and a look at a gentler time that I once lived in. I enjoyed myself and the story immensely. Thank you for offering this oddity in your catalog.
Delightful little mystery/romance! Really enjoyed the quirky characters and the odd plot twists. I’ll be looking at some of Ms. Cadell’s other works.
Such a wonderful book. My favorite by this author. I love the characters and how they sort of accidentally fall in love without expecting it. So funny and charming. If you’ve read this one, read another. Cadell will soon have you hooked.
Really enjoyed the characters and how everything tied in together. Looking to read another book by this author. It has really been years since I read her first book. Now I remember having several of her books.
I read Elizabeth Cadell decades ago and am thrilled that her books are available again. She describes places well, creates characters I care about, keeps the romance and intrigue secondary to interactions, which are often ensemble pieces. I recommend for light and light-hearted reading.
It was a lovely, lively, intelligent mystery read about a slightly older world. The characters are believable and likeable. The story engaged me enough I stayed up way too late reading it. Refreshingly well-written.
I loved the story and characters. Addicting to read. I did not put it down til I finished it.