Jumping the Queue cover art

Jumping the Queue

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Jumping the Queue

By: Mary Wesley
Narrated by: Anna Massey
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About this listen

Matilda Poliport, recently widowed, has decided to End It All. But her meticulously planned bid for graceful oblivion is foiled, and when she later foils the suicide attempt of another lost soul - Hugh Warner, on the run from the police - life begins again for both.

But life also begins to throw up nasty secrets and some awkward questions: just what was Matilda’s husband Tom doing in Paris? How is the soon-to-be-knighted John (or Piers as he likes to be called) involved? Was Louise more than just a lovely daughter? And why did Hugh choose Matilda as his saviour?

Jumping the Queue, brimming over with confidence and black humour, is Mary Wesley’s brilliant debut novel.

©1983 Mary Wesley (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Classics

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All stars
Most relevant
This is a very good read....the story is an unusual look at ageing, family relationships, fears and deceptions. A true ' must keep reading' story. Anna Massey narrates beautifully.

An extraordinary first novel from an older author.

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I wish I had returned this book and not bothered to listen to the end. It is my addiction to posh voices that kept me going. I did not really like any of the characters exceptthe animals. The plot was improbable. The incest angle reminded me how times have changed since the 1980s. As always with Mary Wesley books, it gives an intriguing but not very creditable insight into her secret fantasies. Why is incest invariably included and treated like a bit of a lark, to be condoned?

A good idea but poorly executed

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Is there anything you would change about this book?

Not keen on the story line

If you’ve listened to books by Mary Wesley before, how does this one compare?

Part of the Furniture & The Camomile Lawn are my favourites, I also liked Not That Sort of Girl, this one was not in the same class.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

There wasn't really a scene I could pick out.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

No

Not Mary Wesleys best!

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Typical Wesley, the plot is a little different from other authors and therefore sometimes a little hard to believe.
However, Anna Massey performed it brilliantly.
Quite enjoyable, in all.

Different!

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Mary Wesley writes women characters so well, as they're always strong minded and so unopologetic.

fabulous book

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