The Five-Minute Marriage

This wonderful tale held my interest from the first page. All the characters are finely drawn with a great deal of warmth and humor. Miss Catheret is alone in the world, trying to take care of her sick mother by teaching music. At a friend's urging she decides to get in touch with her mother's estranged family, hoping they will do their duty and help her as she is almost out of funds. Arriving at her mother's childhood home, and introducing herself, the family there declares she is an imposter, and they have been taking care of the REAL Miss Carteret all along, and her mother could not be alive, because she died giving birth. What ensues is a DELIGHTFUL romp and mystery. If you can find a copy you should read it! It is VASTLY entertaining!!!!!!!!

this is a perfect book for a rainy afternoon; joan aiken's stylishly written tale of murder, villains, heroes and misunderstandings is just a laugh and really entertaining. Escapism for sure, but delightfully witty and never insulting the intelligence of the reader. definitely recomended!