In “Spy and Villain” by Joy M. Lilley, Mavis, confined to a wheelchair for the last twenty years or so, finds solace by watching the neighborhood through lace curtains covering her living room windows. She suspects the man across the street is abusing his wife. Mavis’s husband tries to dissuade her determination to step in and befriend the woman, which raises questions about him. Could he be involved?
The story is well-written and a delightful read. I enjoyed the distinctive British flavor of Mavis’s dialogue, both internal and with others. The character is well developed, and I especially liked the unexpected twist at the end. This story is a treat for those stolen moments in a reader’s busy life. A cup of tea would go well with Spy and Villain.
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I SPY EDITING ISSUES AS THE VILLAINS
SPY AND VILLAIN is a tale about a woman named Mavis who is confined to life in a wheelchair due to an unfortunate accident. Mavis sits in front of her window watching the happenings of the neighborhood, focusing primarily on a woman across the street who she feels is being physically abused by her partner. Mavis's husband, Geoff, reprimands her constantly for being 'nosey,' but Mavis is a lonely woman without the affections of her husband. People-watching keeps her entertained. This short story covers a lot of ground about a bevy of topics; none of which are cohesively strung together. The author pops in and out of present and past tense situations in the same paragraphs; the misplaced commas and periods, force readers to stop and re-read sentences over again; the overuse of semi-colons is exhausting; and the sentences lacking, yet requiring question marks at the end, are discomforting at best. These issues are prevalent throughout the story. From the preface, I understood what the premise of the story was supposed to be, and I saw the author's vision, but once in the story, it's quickly revealed that there is no solid storyline, and that a complete overhaul in editing is needed to bring this story up to a comfortable, and less strenuous reading level. I have included snapshots of some of the issues I've referenced. I applaud the author for attempting to tackle such a sensitive subject, but it's going to take a return to the drawing board to have that vision fully fleshed out, which in turn, will offer readers a big dose of clarity. I hope this proves useful to the author.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2025Format: Kindle
SPY AND VILLAIN is a tale about a woman named Mavis who is confined to life in a wheelchair due to an unfortunate accident. Mavis sits in front of her window watching the happenings of the neighborhood, focusing primarily on a woman across the street who she feels is being physically abused by her partner. Mavis's husband, Geoff, reprimands her constantly for being 'nosey,' but Mavis is a lonely woman without the affections of her husband. People-watching keeps her entertained.
This short story covers a lot of ground about a bevy of topics; none of which are cohesively strung together.
The author pops in and out of present and past tense situations in the same paragraphs; the misplaced commas and periods, force readers to stop and re-read sentences over again; the overuse of semi-colons is exhausting; and the sentences lacking, yet requiring question marks at the end, are discomforting at best. These issues are prevalent throughout the story.
From the preface, I understood what the premise of the story was supposed to be, and I saw the author's vision, but once in the story, it's quickly revealed that there is no solid storyline, and that a complete overhaul in editing is needed to bring this story up to a comfortable, and less strenuous reading level. I have included snapshots of some of the issues I've referenced.
I applaud the author for attempting to tackle such a sensitive subject, but it's going to take a return to the drawing board to have that vision fully fleshed out, which in turn, will offer readers a big dose of clarity.
I hope this proves useful to the author.
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- Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2025
This Christian-themed story has an interesting premise, a red herring, and an unexpected conclusion.
Format: Kindle
