View source for Best Laid Plans by Patricia Fawcett

{{infobox1
|title=Best Laid Plans
|author=Patricia Fawcett
|reviewer=Sue Magee
|genre=Women's Fiction
|summary=A good story but let down by two-dimensional characters.
|rating=3
|buy=Maybe
|borrow=Yes
|pages=224
|publisher=Robert Hale
|date=July 2013
|isbn=978-0719810015
|website=http://www.patriciafawcett.co.uk/
|cover=0719810019
|aznuk=0719810019
|aznus=0719810019
}}

The Fletcher family have a removal business but it's been hit - as have so many other businesses - by the recession.  Frank Fletcher has been lucky in having the support of his wife Christine, who has money of her own which she's been willing to inject into the business, but he counts himself less lucky in his son Mike.  Mike works for his father for what he describes as 'a pittance' and suffers being publicly humiliated by him rather too often.  Frank would like to sack Mike, but doesn't feel able to take such a drastic step.  To add to the problem, Christine is very fond of Mike's wife, Monique - to the detriment of her own daughter, Amy who works in retail - much to her father's chagrin.  He'd love to have her in the business rather than Mike. It's very complicated.

Frank and Amy have always been close.  Christine has always thought of her as a Daddy's girl  - and they have something else in common.  Neither of them thinks that Monique is ''quite'' as innocent and uncomplicated as she would have the family believe.  Everything comes to a head in dramatic fashion when Amy takes a boyfriend home for Christmas.

It's an interesting story - firmly grounded in current economic times, when a removal business which isn't in the top of the sector and a family-run department store are going to struggle as they lack the economies of scale and the sheer ''clout'' of the big companies.  Patricia Fawcett captured the feeling within these businesses and the way that some employees carve a niche for themselves which might not be in the firm's best interest. I loved the way that she depicted the premises as not being ''quite'' the full shilling. Full marks there.

I was less convinced by the characters, who seemed two dimensional and not quite believeable.  Personalities seemed to change overnight, motivations were suspect and there was ''far'' to much about what they were wearing on any particular occasion.  If you can overlook these points though the book does give an enjoyable and interesting read. I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

If this book appeals then you might also enjoy [[The Son In Law by Charity Norman]].

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