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Pleasure and a Calling
Pleasure and a Calling | Phil Hogan
12 posts | 13 read | 31 to read
"I loved A Pleasure and a Calling--gripping, sinister, original, and brilliant!"--Sophie Hannah, bestselling author of The Monogram Murders and The Orphan ChoirMr. Heming loves the leafy English village where he lives. As a local real estate agent, he knows every square inch of the town and sees himself as its protector, diligent in enforcing its quaint charm. Most people don't pay much attention to Mr. Heming--but Mr. Heming pays attention to them. You see, he has the keys to their homes. In fact, he has the keys to every home he's ever sold. Over the years, Mr. Heming has kept them all so that he can observe his neighbors, not just on the street, but behind locked doors. As details of a troubled childhood emerge, Mr. Heming's disturbing hobby begins to form a clear pattern, and the reasons behind it come into focus--and when the quiet routine of his village is disrupted by strange occurrences, including a dead body found in the backyard of a client's home, he realizes it may only be a matter of time before his own secrets are found out. A brilliant portrait of one man's obsession, A Pleasure and a Calling is a darkly funny and utterly transfixing tale that will hold you under its spell.
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bookandbedandtea
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Holy crap y'all. This was super creepy in a way that felt very original. I certainly haven't read anything quite like this. I feel like I can't say much w/o giving away more than I should. This definitely has me wondering how many people don't change the locks when they buy a new (used) house? My hubby and I have only moved a few times but changing the locks always happened on move in day! I suspect I'll be thinking of this story for a long time.

Librarybelle I‘ve read this one a couple of times. Super creepy, and yes, it made me wonder about lock changing. 5y
bookandbedandtea @Librarybelle It seems like that's a no brainer. Who wouldn't dio that?! 🤷‍♀️ 5y
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bookandbedandtea
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It's another snowy day in my world. I love cosy reading days. 😍❄💜📖

TheAromaofBooks This book was delightfully creepy!! I didn't completely agree with the ending, so I'll be interested to hear what you think! 5y
bookandbedandtea @TheAromaofBooks I'm conflicted! The author somehow got me on the MCs side- despite how VERY WRONG his actions are- leaving me relieved by the ending yet feeling unclean. 🥴 5y
TheAromaofBooks I remember feeling a bit flabbergasted that he just keeps right on going with no consequences!! Although maybe the author's goal was to make you feel like he could have been in MY house earlier today... 😬 5y
bookandbedandtea @TheAromaofBooks I think you're exactly right about the author's goal and, in my case at least, he achieved it. Letting the MC get away with everything and leaving him free at the end to act as puppeteer/demigod of his town is scary. In that regard I think the ending is better than it would be if he got caught, if that makes sense. 5y
TheAromaofBooks I agree, although I will say that I was also somewhat enraged, mostly because the MC spent the entire book bragging about how awesome he was, to the point where he rather got on my nerves, and then in the end - he's right! Part of me really wanted him to get his comeuppance! 5y
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Librarybelle
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I know, I know...I use this book A LOT for creepyish prompts, but it fits so perfectly! Mr Heming fits for #SomebodysWatchingMe . #OctoberXFiles

Cinfhen If the book fits....😘 (edited) 6y
Robothugs @Cinfhen That!!! 6y
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Librarybelle
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The first book that came to mind - a recent reread. Mr Heming and his creepiness awaits your business, and if you‘re lucky, his attentions. #IveBeenWaitingForYou #ABBAinAugust

Mdargusch That does sound creepy! 6y
emilyhaldi This cover is creepy 😳 6y
Reviewsbylola Me Heming sounds like an intriguing guy! 6y
See All 6 Comments
Meredith3 I‘m loving all of these creepy thrillers for today‘s hashtag ! 6y
literarywisdom I've read this, but it has a different title, The Intruder. I gave it 4 stars! 6y
Librarybelle @literarywisdom I see the other editions had that title! It fits! 6y
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Librarybelle
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This book is just as creepy the second time around...Mr Heming is a real estate agent who had a penchant for making himself at home in former clients‘ homes. But, that‘s only the beginning of his creepy and disturbed behavior. He also has obsessions, and his current “mark” leads him down an even darker path.

This is atypical of my usual reading - men hiding in closets in my house rightfully unhinged me - but it‘s riveting. Change your locks!

Moray_Reads Great cover too 6y
LeahBergen 😬😬😬 6y
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Librarybelle
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The creepy narrator of this book loves the library...

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Librarybelle
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Read this a couple years ago, so this is a refresher read for my mystery book group meeting next week.

A real estate agent who keeps the keys of clients‘ houses and makes himself at home when they‘re away. Creepy, right? Things get creepier when he visits a home one day and something happens...

keys_on_fire Sounds interesting! 6y
SandyW The New Yorker in me had always changed the locks before moving in someplace new. 6y
Librarybelle @SandyW I‘m not from a city, but changing the locks was the first thing I did when I moved into my house! 6y
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Librarybelle
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Thanks for the tag, @PenguinInFlight !

1. Tagged book - it‘s creepy
2. The Beguiled with Clint Eastwood
3. Not very scary, compared to other posts! I can never go back to the Jennie Wade House in Gettysburg - I visited as a kid with my family and had such a feeling of unwelcoming I had to leave the museum and wait for my family. Such a feeling of “get out of here,” I can still feel the chest tightening feeling
4. Tag, you‘re it!
#TuesdayTidbits

JenlovesJT47 ❤️❤️❤️ 7y
70 likes1 comment
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Librarybelle
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I used this for a prompt last month, but I don‘t typically read books that scare me (extremely vivid imagination, though I‘ve been known to watch paranormal reality TV - go figure!). Mr Hemming is probably the #scariestvillain I‘ve read. He‘s creepy and seems to lack a conscience. #MarchMadness

Christine11 He is unbelievably creepy - I totally agree ! 😱 7y
somebooksaround That really does sound creepy!! 7y
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Librarybelle
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I read this book a couple years ago, and will be rereading it later this year for my mystery book discussion. Mr Heming is creepy. Seriously. A real estate agent that keeps a key to your house when you‘re not there. Yeah, that type of creepy. But, what happens if someone shows up unannounced? Yeah, it gets creepier. #TooManyCreeps #FierceFeb

batsy Oh no... Definitely creepy 😲 7y
Cinfhen Ugh, I don't like that type of creepiness... nightmares 😣 7y
Christine11 I remember being so creeped out by this book ! It was scary ! 7y
Librarybelle @batsy @Cinfhen @Christine11 It‘s definitely not a book for everyone, and I‘m surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did. I have a very active imagination, and so something like this would normally bother me. I did choose to read this in daylight, so maybe that helped! 7y
LeahBergen This sounds good! 😮 7y
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Librarybelle
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Mr Heming fits my description of #Creep so well...a real estate agent, who will happily sell you a house, but then make a copy of your key and stop by your house. Creepy, right? Well, something happens at a house one day that changes things, and you the reader will suddenly realize that Mr Heming is creepy and dangerous and weird beyond words. A good book, if you don't mind excessively creepy characters. #RockinMay

Cinfhen A definite #Creep 🙀🙀🙀 8y
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Reita325
Pickpick

A bit predictable but enough of an oddity to be recommendable.

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