Silly Beggars - Ben Hawksworth S

Clive is a quiet unassuming man who lives in relative comfort with his wife and two grown up children. His most obvious quality is a remarkable degree of gullibility. He had given up a well-paid job in industry to take up a position as carer in a sheltered housing scheme. This move led to Clive's contentment but his wife resented what she perceived as a major drop in her social standing. Clive's life takes a dramatic change when he receives a large inheritance from his former employer. Whilst most people would regard this as a welcome event, for Clive it only leads to massive disruption in his life. On a trip to a solicitor's office in Hull he attends a somewhat bizarre will reading. Whilst being completely innocent, he is subsequently accused of car theft, complicity in the death of its previous owner and adultery. Along with this he is faced with vast numbers of people who engage in a variety of schemes to try and relieve him of his new-found wealth. His naivety knows no bounds and it takes the efforts of his colleague Sally to try and drag him into the real world and ensure that he makes the best use of his money. All this happens against a backdrop of local government corruption as a councillor plans to close down the home where Clive and his co-workers support three adults with a variety of learning difficulties. Clive's ultimate response to his financial predicament and his marital situation is inventive.

Whilst this book touches on some important issues it is essentially a story of gentle humour.