{"product_id":"batch-magna-caper-pb-w9","title":"Peter Maughan: The Batch Magna Caper (The Batch Magna Chronicles) [2019] paperback","description":"Welcome to Batch Magna, a place where anything might happen. And often does...\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eA hapless gang of crooks, led by pawnbroker Harold Sneed, have managed pull off 'the big one': a wages snatch at a factory in Shrewsbury. Two gang members take the money back to Birmingham by train, changing at a station almost on the doorstep of Sir Humphrey of Batch Hall.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt's there that things start to unravel. The money goes missing. Misunderstanding follows misunderstanding, until it leads the crooks to Batch Hall when everyone is busy with a historical re-enactment show. Among the replica firearms is a real gun, carried by Harold Sneed with murderous intent and Humphrey in mind.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eSneed is now convinced that Humphrey - an overweight former short-order cook from the Bronx - is a Mafia mobster lying low. And on top of this, he believes Humph has his money; as a result, the spectators at Batch Hall are in for more of a show than they bargained for...\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat readers are saying about The Batch Magna Chronicles series:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cstrong\u003eAn enchanting mixture of \u003cem\u003eThe Wind in The Willows\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Darling Buds of May\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e. An England that doesn't exist but surely should.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Reading this book was \u003cstrong\u003elike sitting down for a nice long chat with an old friend\u003c\/strong\u003e. I loved reading the Welsh village descriptions; it felt like coming home. ... I eagerly await the next instalment of the Batch Magna crew!\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"I first got this book out of the local library, and then brought a copy - \u003cstrong\u003eI wanted to read it again and again\u003c\/strong\u003e. It's a treasure, a smashing read, funny and beautifully written.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"These books are such fun, \u003cstrong\u003edarkly comic and full of great characters\u003c\/strong\u003e. ... Batch Magna is a place I would love to find, and the river sounds idyllic.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cstrong\u003eHurrah for Batch Magna\u003c\/strong\u003e, Humphrey and friends.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e \"I loved this book. It's lyrical and very amusing, with \u003cstrong\u003eall the charm of an old Ealing comedy\u003c\/strong\u003e. ... More please Mr Maughan!\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cstrong\u003eWhat an amazing writer!\u003c\/strong\u003e I have never found any descriptive writing that has gripped me so much before.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cstrong\u003eA thoroughly enjoyable read.\u003c\/strong\u003e ... Is there another Batch Magna book on the way, please? Such a wonderfully descriptive bucolic and warmly 'human' story with echoes of the \u003cem\u003eDarling Buds of May\u003c\/em\u003e.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cstrong\u003eA wonderful, funny, well-crafted escape from everyday life.\u003c\/strong\u003e If you love writing that absorbs you into the landscape you will love this book. Every sense was satisfied with the author's beautiful descriptions of the Marches. Escape from the tarmac, concrete and relentlessness of life with this stunning book. Thank you Mr Maughan.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"I absolutely loved this book and all the characters became so real to me, \u003cstrong\u003eI just couldn't put it down.\u003c\/strong\u003e\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Maughan, Peter","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":42324929937593,"sku":"9781788421294","price":11.25,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0616\/4001\/6057\/files\/maughan-peter-peter-maughan-the-batch-magna-caper-the-batch-magna-chronicles-2019-paperback-9781788421294-1152879576.jpg?v=1743281131","url":"https:\/\/theirishbookshop.live\/products\/batch-magna-caper-pb-w9","provider":"Chapters Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}