The Mystery Shopper And The Hot Tub By Helen E. Field

‘The Mystery Shopper And The Hot Tub’ is the debut novel by Helen E. Field.

All that’s missing from Brooke’s life is a hot tub. Brooke’s bored at home and wants financial independence, but mostly a hot tub and Dean’s a man with traditional values and he doesn’t want Brooke to work. She secretly takes a job at a nearby country house, meeting the incorrigible Lady Townsend. This unlikely friendship, plus some jaw-dropping events, helps Brooke realise that she’s capable of so much more than she thought. Dean is a devoted husband and father, and, knowing what Brooke wants most of all in life, he secretly takes up mystery shopping hoping to make some extra money to pay for it. And if he gets some peace and quiet whilst doing so, all the better. The elaborate web of lies they both weave results in numerous madcap situations, but can their deceit undermine the love that they have.

Brooke and Dean are a young married couple with an outspoken and emotional little girl called Paige. They both have huge aspirations in life, but with little money, these aspirations are limited. Dean knows that Brooke dreams of a hot tub and so decides to take another job on board of his full time job. The job is to become a mystery shopper and this opens new opportunities and experiences that Dean who would never have had a chance to encounter and often ends in hilarious results as Dean tries to make the most of the fantastic opportunities of staying in 5 star hotels and hiding them from Brooke as he wants the time for himself. Meanwhile Brooke is used to being a lady of leisure and letting Dean be the main breadwinner in the family, but wanting the hot tub has spurred a sense of independence and applies for a job working for an elderly socialite called Lady Townsend who introduces Brooke to world of culture and class, that Brook finds fascinating. Between the pair of them Brooke and Dean embark on ridiculous situations and a web of lies all in the name of the lusted after hot tub.

I really enjoyed this story, it’s funny and witty with outspoken personalities that made for delicious reading. I loved Brooke, initially she comes across as quite air-headed and confident but as the story progresses, we discover that even though she’s beautiful, she lacks confidence in herself and with this new job that introduces her to a whole new world, we see her grow in confidence and knowledge, which surprises not only herself but also Dean. The moves at a fast pace that keeps the reader engaged with the colourful dialogue and vivid descriptions of Elephant Close and the market the Brooke likes to attend.

Fun, sassy and over spilling with attitude, ‘The Mystery Shopper And The Hot Tub’ is the first book in a new series by Helen called ‘The De’ath Family Antics’ and if the rest are just like this one, then we’re in for a treat!

You can buy ‘The Mystery Shopper And The Hot Tub’ from Amazon.