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Miss Benson's Beetle

An uplifting story of female friendship against the odds

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

It is 1950. In a devastating moment of clarity, Margery Benson abandons her dead-end job and advertises for an assistant to accompany her on an expedition. She is going to travel to the other side of the world to search for a beetle that may or may not exist.
Enid Pretty, in her unlikely pink travel suit, is not the companion Margery had in mind. And yet together they will be drawn into an adventure that will exceed every expectation. They will risk everything, break all the rules, and at the top of a red mountain, discover their best selves.

This is a story that is less about what can be found than the belief it might be found; it is an intoxicating adventure story but it is also about what it means to be a woman and a tender exploration of a friendship that defies all boundaries.

©Rachel Joyce 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

 Action & Adventure Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Women's Adventure Women's Fiction Feel-Good Funny Heartfelt Inspiring Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking Witty Comedy

Critic reviews

Unmissable fiction from an award-winning author: an unlikely pair embark on a grand adventure in this glorious novel about second chances, heartfelt friendships and emotional courage. (Eithne Farry)
A girl's own adventure...This is Rachel Joyce's best book yet ...Exciting, moving and full of unexpected turns... surely this is the one that will propel the intrepid Joyce off the long and shortlists into prizewinning territory. (Melissa Katsoulis)
A joy of a novel, with real insight into the lives of women, the value of friendship and the lasting effects of war (Katy Guest)

Joyce's characters are so charmingly eccentric that they could have leapt straight from the pages of a Dickens novel. Enid is a comedic masterpiece, effervescent and brimming with life.
This exhilarating story will scoop you up and carry you along to a dizzying crescendo. But it is also a story of an unlikely friendship and of women who refuse to be defined by the labels cast upon them in drab 1950s Britain. Funny, wise, and utterly life-affirming
A life-affirming, joyously escapist picaresque tale
This glorious novel is as much about second chances, heartfelt friendships and emotional courage as it is about trekking through dangerous terrain.
A glorious novel about second chances, heartfelt friendships and emotional courage.
BEST BOOKS FOR SUMMER 2020: uplifting
Rachel Joyce created an unforgettable character with Harold Fry and she's done it again with Margery Benson ... Hilarious
A sparkling new take on the concept of changing your life on a whim ... a standout, special read.
All stars
Most relevant
This was a remarkable story of friendship and exploration. Juliet Stevenson is one of my favourite narrators and was a joy to listen to

Excellent story of female friendship

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I could have carried on listening to this adventure forever. Such an unlikely and comical friendship and a tale that takes you somewhere you’ve barely even noticed on the globe. Juliet Stephenson reads as expertly as ever.

Utterly Delightful

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I would recommend this book in a heartbeat. I read and listen to many many books and was looking for something a little different to crime thrillers, historic fiction or chic lit - all ok but I wanted something more. This was perfect. I enjoyed the characters, the pace, the developing story alongside the back stories and it made me smile and chuckle to myself at times too. As an audible book the narrator can break even the best novel - so pleased that Juliet Stevenson did this one, couldn’t have been a better choice. I know they won’t see it but all the same a massive thank you to the author.

A delight. So well written (& read) loved it

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narration fabulous. Lots of wonderful moments/ insights in the story. I could see it all vividly.

Loved it

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I honestly feel richer for knowing Marjory and Enid. I was so impressed by the writing from the off, and the story is so perfectly crafted. It’s rare that the writing and the story are equally matched in a book. And the performance made it extra-cinematic, I’ll definitely be recommending the audiobook when I tell people about ‘Miss Benson’s Beetle’!

Life-affirming & enriching!

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