My Friend Martha's Aunt is another irresistible episode for Janet Alexander and her "Friends", both lovable and unlovable! In time it is the direct sequel to My Friend Sandy and is again set in the Caribbean.
My Friend Martha's Aunt Main Characters
- Janet Alexander
- Twice Alexander
- Sandy Maclean
- Sashie de Marnay
- Sir Ian Dulac
- Madame Dulac
- Mrs Secker (Martha's Aunt)
My Friend Martha's Aunt - The Plot
Janet and "Twice" Alexander are continuing their highly eventful lives on the volcanic island of St. Jago when a letter arrives from Janet's friend Martha in New York. Martha first came into the My Friend Series during My Friend Monica when she visited Janet from America. Martha's aunt is about to descend on St. Jago to recuperate from her third divorce and Martha requests that Janet and Twice keep an eye on her. Janet is all too happy to oblige a friend, especially one who regularly sends parcels of goodies from America to Reachfar, but when the irascible Mrs Secker swoops in, Janet's worst fears are confirmed.
Martha's aunt soon begins to annoy the local hoteliers of the island, is constantly shopping for trinkets and souvenirs and has an embarrassing interest in all men between the ages of forty and sixty. She also has an uncanny knack for irritating Janet, especially when she insists on calling Twice "Alex".
It does not take long before Mrs Secker gets herself involved with a religious organisation called "Solace in the Sun" and soon finds herself being romanced and persuaded into buying a luxury property called Mount Segoya. Fortunately, Sir Ian discovers the plot just in the nick of time and manages to intervene to save Martha's aunt. However, in the meanwhile, whilst life on the sugar plantation continues, Sandy discovers the dead body of the missing local beauty Linda Lee, lying among the lilies in the river.
So many plots intertwine in this story and it is a fast-moving installment in the series with a fitting but sinister climax. My Friend Martha's Aunt challenges firmly held religious and cultural beliefs in a delicate and sensitive way, whilst using humour to defuse tense situations. Throughout the book there is the ever-pervading presence of Reachfar (Janet's Scottish home) bringing comfort and strength.
It is advisable to read the My Friend books in sequence and, after My Friend Martha's Aunt, comes My Friend Flora which is set both in Scotland and America.
My Friend Martha's Aunt was first published in 1962 by Macmillan & Co Ltd. A paperback edition was released in 1964 by Pan Books Ltd.
Linda Smallwood - Hi my name is Linda Smallwood. I am married with two sons aged 13 and 11 and live in North Wales. After 18 years working for The ...
