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At the Captain's Table

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About this listen

Sail away with the delightful new novel from Gervase Phinn, best-selling author of The School at the Top of the Dale.

A summer cruise should be just the ticket for a few weeks of luxury and relaxation—but for the passengers and crew of the Empress of the Ocean, the sights of the Mediterranean are nothing compared to the excitement on board....

For bickering couple Albert and Maureen, the trip might prove a much-needed escape—or the final straw. Elegant Frances de la Mare is determined to hobnob with the right kind of people—but her penthouse suite proves lonelier than she ever imagined. Meanwhile, precocious 12-year-old Oliver discovers that guidebooks don't teach you everything, sparks fly when the port lecturer finds himself upstaged by a popular author, dancers Bruce and Babs can't keep in step, and cruise expert Neville just wants someone to speak to.

But as unlikely friendships are forged, feuds bubble in the laundry room, and everyone jostles for a seat at the captain's table, they might find all their plans going overboard....

Warm, funny and uplifting, this is the perfect escapist story for fans of Gervase Phinn's Yorkshire novels, as well as listeners of Celia Imrie, Alan Titchmarsh and Maeve Haran.

©2022 Gervase Phinn (P)2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Friendship Genre Fiction Literature & Fiction Fiction Feel-Good Funny Witty Comedy

Critic reviews

"[Gervase Phinn is] a worthy successor to James Herriott, and every bit as endearing." (Alan Titchmarsh, best-selling author)
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It seems a long time ago now since I listened to and enjoyed Gervase Phinn's series about the life of a school inspector in Yorkshire. When I came across this book, I was confident that I would enjoy it. Can you describe an audiobook as "a page turner"? If so then this is one and like some of the passengers I was very sorry when the cruise came to an end.

I did find the narration a little bit stilted almost staccato in places, perhaps just me being pernickety. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Yorkshire humour and 'feel good' all the way.

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Loved every moment made me giggle. Love the way it is written and read great story

Happy story

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Another thoroughly enjoyable story from Gervase Phinn, this time far from the Yorkshire Dale's and school life, but none the less enjoyable. I love the authors observation of character traits, so realistic you can identify people or even yourself in them. Very easily readable with a few belly laughs thrown in, my personal favourites were the two sisters, one of whom always substitutes a word for something with another that is almost always cringe worthy, so funny, and anyone who has ever been on a cruise has met a Neville.

Another thoroughly enjoyable story from Gervase Ph

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Gervase Phinn captured everything there is to know about our fellow beings and he delivers the array of characters perfectly as they cruise the Med.
This heartwarming story made me laugh out loud and at times brought a lump to my throat. For the whole 31 chapters it hugged me like a comfort blanket that I didn’t want to let go of.
Worthy of 5* .

What a story!

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The whole story, narration and characters were both funny and heartwarming, and very true of people. Gervase Phinn is a brilliant writer and narrator and can make you laugh out loud and cry. can't wait to download another book by this brilliant author.
Highly recommend.

Absolutely brilliant

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