Sixpenny Holding

By: Margaret Scutt

Narrated by: Jennifer Dixon

Marian Stamford moves to her dream home: a snug little cottage in a Dorset village where nothing ever happens. She only wants a quiet life, a home for her unlikely family of two nieces and one troublesome kitten.

Before long, things take a darker turn. A man breaks out of prison, leaving the villagers rattled.

What are they afraid of?

Marian isn’t one for idle gossip. But she can’t ignore the telltale signs that someone has been sneaking into her garden at night.

And then there’s the gruff stranger she’s seen hanging round next door. Who is he? And what does he want with the farmer’s wife?

It’s up to Marian find out.

But in a village full of secrets, the truth can be hard to find.

©2021 by Margaret Scutt (P)2023 by Blackstone Publishing

How smooth the story went

Loved the developments of each one’s life . Different personalities, different life experience & how they all interacted & grew together.

A Quiet Cozy Mystery

A sweet example of its type. The writing was good, the wit was actually witty - my two main requirements. It’s definitely a period piece and the role cast for the female protagonist is not modern; however, she had just as much agency as some of the female characters written into recent ghastly Regency romances. If you’re looking for a gentle read and a true cozy, this is a good option.

I also read that the author’s nieces and nephews brought her work back into print - thank you!

Really enjoyed this book

It’s different to what I was expecting but really enjoyable easy to listen to story .

A charming tale (Publisher’s Summary misleading)

Pay little attention to the “Publisher’s Summary.” The “mystery” part of the book is a minor aspect. Rather this is an atmospheric, gently humorous portrait of life in a Dorset village after WW2 but before modern technology changed community life completely.

Marion has spent her life caring for her sick mother and, upon her death,is finally free to pursue her dream of moving to a little cottage home and spending her days writing. No sooner does she settle in than her selfish milksop brother uses an embarrassing amount of emotional blackmail to press her into caring for his daughter, while he goes off to Canada to pursue better employment. I was outraged on her behalf but wee Dora will probably win your heart as much as she did mine, and Marion’s. Her household grows by one more when her sister asks if her teenage daughter, Angela, can also move in for the summer as she recovers from a serious illness. Angela takes Dora under her wing and soon the three are living contentedly together as each of them start to bloom in their own ways. While the girls bring unexpected joy and richness to her life, Marion is taken by surprise when it appears she may yet have a chance of romance in her life. There is a brief and hair-raising encounter with an escaped convict that adds just enough tension to the story. It’s a satisfying read, charming without veering into the saccharine. Recommended.

Another Great Book By the Author

Sadly, this is the second and last book by the author on Audible. As I stated in my review of her other Audible book, it has been a pleasure to listen to a book that had no foul language, no needless graphic sexual content, no witchcraft, only implied and not a nasty murder, no so-called “Christian” content… just plain good, old fashioned writing with good plain characters..except for a villain or two or course.. and an HEA for all. Unfortunately, such a rarity on Audible these days. And the narrator was perfect.