The Mystery Shopper & The Hot Tub

by Helen E. Field

The Mystery Shopper & The Hot Tub is an irreverent, hilarious, quick and easy read, full of English humour as well as much loved places and characters, from deepest, darkest Essex, with language and behaviour to match! It’s about the secret antics of a young working-class couple, who aspire to better things in life.

Brooke and Dean are a stereotypical young, working-class couple from Essex, England. They have dreams and aspirations in life but not the income to match, making them appear shallow and obsessed with image above all else. However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear that one should not judge a book by its cover!
Dean is an overprotective and OCD ish husband who adores his wife and baby daughter Paige. He will do anything to make the sassy and demanding Brooke happy, including secretly becoming a mystery shopper to try and earn enough money to buy her the hot tub she so desires, as well as using it as a chance for some time away from his screaming baby!
The stunning Brooke is bored at home and craves financial independence, so eventually takes a job in a local country house for the incorrigible Lady Townsend. She introduces Brooke to a whole new jaw-dropping world with the upper classes and unwittingly becomes her mentor, but Brooke decides not to tell Dean about her job! Instead, she goes to work secretly and between the two of them they spend all their time concocting lies to hide the secret lives they are both living, which culminates in numerous, stressful, ridiculous and hilarious situations!
The interesting and fun cast of characters are as endearing as they are maddening, and the reader gradually discovers they are well intentioned, but misguided. Will Brooke and Dean’s determination to get what they want undermine the love they have?
The novel is fast paced, light-hearted, as well as a highly entertaining read and international readers will learn something of the rather unique county and characters of Essex.

The De'Ath Family Antics