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August 5, 2008 10:56 AM

HELEN'S HEROINES: Emily Prince

When we first meet Emily in The Secret Shopper's Revenge by Kate Harrison, she is a new mother and also newly single after her husband left her for a woman called Heidi and is now living in Geneva. Emily, in contrast, is struggling - being low on self esteem, low on money and low on friends.

Then she meets Grazia, who sees certain qualities in Emily, and a short time later Emily becomes a mystery shopper. Which, she comes to realise, she is actually quite good at. In return the mystery shopping helps with her self esteem, offers some financial security and, unexpectedly, also gives her friendships.

When I was reading this book for review I knew, as I read it, that Emily would make a great heroine for this column. We see Emily at the beginning, at her lowest, and watch as she recovers from the awful way her husband treated her, and blossoms into someone she wants to be, but has always been constrained, first by her parents and then by her husband.

Yes she has help along the way. First with Grazia offering her the job and secondly with the friendships she builds with Grazia, Sandie and later Will. But she nurtures those friendships, taking time to help the other women with their troubles too. Most tellingly, when she realises what has happened to a shop manager after one of her secret missions, she is outraged and feels a sense of duty towards him and the shop.

Emily is such a strong character.  After all, it's not easy being a mum. It's also not easy living on your own for the first time in London. And it certainly isn't easy when your husband leaves you for another woman. Having had all three happen to her at pretty much the same time, yet coming through it with a smile on her face, yes and the occasional wobble (she wouldn't be real otherwise), is pretty inspiring.

More Helen's Heroines

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Posted by Helen Redfern on August 5, 2008 in British Authors, Helen's Heroines | Permalink

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