Miss Benson’s Beetle: A Novel

Margery Benson and Enid Pretty make one of the oddest friendships that could come from 1950s England. Margery is a teacher with a passion for entomology, weary of her work and of the children who mock her for her size. Enid has bleached-blonde hair, bright pink clothes, and horrendous spelling, along with a brilliant sense of fun. Together, the two of them set off to New Caledonia in search of a golden beetle.

The book starts out as a high-flying, humorous adventure, darting from high point to high point. Theft! An obsessive man! Enid’s mysterious past! The tone keeps up its consistently eager pace as Margery and Enid travel to the other side of the world, but the stakes grow ever higher as the pair grow ever closer to their quarry.

Miss Benson’s Beetle was a delightfully fun read. Where the characters lacked depth (or their depth seemed tacked on), they made up for it in vivacity. I had a great time reading it, and anyone who wants to see a friendship blossom out of the most unlikely circumstances will too.