A contemporary rural English town is the setting for this
warm-hearted story, which focuses on the progress of a new
curate in the church and his efforts to avoid upsetting
the
flower arrangers while he settles down to marry. IF YOU
FOLLOW ME is the third of the Dunbridge Chronicles
and
new readers don't get much time before being plunged into
the pool of characters. A cast list at the start will be
of
help to those not familiar with the names.
Reverend Neil Fisher is the young man who takes his
appointed task very seriously, and he is sort-of engaged
at
the start to Claire. This lady had a previous relationship
but that man walked out leaving her to bring up their son
Sam on her own. Abruptly that absent father returns to
town. What is Claire to make of this, and can she avoid a
bitter scene with him? Neil steps aside from involvement
in
the matter, but his attempts to prepare the Harvest
Festival are interrupted when he needs to counsel an
unfortunate battered wife. Next minute the flower
arranging ladies are at loggerheads. Life is never quiet.
I did think the curate was too trusting when he told the
battered wife she would be safe in her home. The sheer
nastiness of some of the pettier matters is startling
though. Neil has the balanced attitude that everyone
suffers losses in life but we should not take this out on
other people. He's also answerable to his Bishop. More
humorously, the local firefighters agree to pose for a
cheeky calendar in aid of charity, scandalising the
respectable people and raising rather a lot of money. So
the earthy tale continues as author Pam Rhodes weaves
sauce
and staid together to portray a country Christmas and
daffodil time, concluding in summer.
IF YOU FOLLOW ME will suit people who like to read about
troubled young people as well as dilemmas for older
people.
The curate's life is not easy as the weight of breaking
bad
news falls to him, besides taking the troubles of his
parishioners on his inexperienced shoulders. Underlying
the
whole however is a robust attitude and determination to
see
the best in people. We can all learn valuable lessons from
Neil and Dunbridge - if just about getting along with
volunteers or not leaving shy youngsters out of matters.
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