The Page 69 Test: "The Postmistress of Puddlington"

Friday, August 14, 2026

"The Postmistress of Puddlington"

Bestselling, award-winning author Laura Jensen Walker is the Agatha and Lefty-nominated author of more than 20 books including Murder Most Sweet, Hope, Faith & a Corpse, and Death of a Flying Nightingale.

A rabid Anglophile since being stationed at an RAF base with the USAF in her twenties, Walker lives in Northern California with her Renaissance-man husband and two rescue terriers, where she drinks tea and dreams of England.

Walker applied the Page 69 Test to her new novel, The Postmistress of Puddlington, with the following results:

In my historical novel, The Postmistress of Puddlington, set in a small English village during WWII, on page 69 best friends Violet and Nora are discussing the recent brutal beating of conscientious objector William Barclay by soldiers, wondering how people can be so cruel. William owns Barclay’s, the local draper’s shop, which he runs with his mother, Winnie.

[Note to readers: Since this book is set in England and peopled with British characters, the spelling and punctuation is English style, e.g., defence spelled with a c, rather than s, and single quotes for dialogue rather than double.]
‘With his refusal to fight and do his bit, folk think William’s not united with them. [Nora, a Wren in the Royal Navy, speaking]

‘Do you? [Vicar’s daughter Violet]

‘No, but I know plenty that do, especially those in His Majesty’s Armed Forces.’

‘William’s never been a fighter. Remember in school when the other lads would pick on him and tease him about being a mummy’s boy? He’d never fight back or defend himself.’

‘That’s because you and Ned were always quick to jump to his defence.’

‘We weren’t the only ones.’ Violet slid Nora a sideways glance, a smile curving her lips. ‘I seem to recall a certain member of the Clarke family punching Harold Hastings in the nose after he’d kicked William.’

‘I’ve never liked bullies, and I feel sorry for William. His mother is so helpless and dependent on him; I don’t see how he’s ever going to break away and have his own life.’

‘Oh, I’m sure he will.’ Violet gave Nora an arch look.

‘You look like the cat that got the cream. What do you know?’

Violet looked round to make sure no one could overhear. ‘Only that William has met someone in London and is planning to move there in the not-too-distant future. He’s working up his courage to tell his mum.’

‘Good for him. But what about Barclay’s?’

‘William told me, in confidence, he’ll likely sell it to the Trimble’s. Florrie’s been eyeing it for years, eager to expand her shopkeeping reach. Barclay’s has been losing money for some time now, and the war has made it clear to William that draper’s shops are on the way out. He’s ready for a fresh start.’

‘Would he take Winnie to London with him?’

‘Heavens, no! His mum has a widowed sister in Yorkshire who’s been asking Winnie to move in with her for year, but she always said she couldn’t leave Puddlington—she was tied to the shop. Now she won’t be.’

‘Do you think Winnie’s ready to let her only chick fly the nest?’
This page is a good representation of what readers will find in my book which revolves around the daily lives of women in a Dorset village during WWII doing their bit on the home front while the men are off fighting on the front lines. The featured women include Mary Robins, vicar’s wife and president of the local WI (Women’s Institute); Minerva Winterbottom, the bohemian lady of the manor who takes in a child evacuee from London; Violet Robins, the vicar’s daughter who becomes a Land Girl and catches the eye of a Yank G.I.; Nora Clarke, Violet’s best friend who enlists in the Women’s Royal Naval Service, and Hester Smith, the spinster, bookish postmistress who acts as the unifying link delivering both good news and bad to the villagers.