An utter delight. And more endearing for containing great wodges of unapologetic engineering detail, ideal for the man of a certain age who like the protagonist imagine that their unassuming skill might bring them respect and fortune. A book that is exactly what it says on the tin. ( )

An enjoyable adventure story that makers of things will enjoy, though it doesn't have quite as much of a "do-it-yourself" aspect as I had expected. ( )

One of Nevil Shute's best I think, well written, a good story and a good read ( )

The Trustee From the Toolroom by Nevil Shute is an interesting story about Keith Stewart, a toolroom fitter who has given up his factory job in order to devote his time to his hobby of miniature machines and to writing about them in a magazine. He has become well known in the world of hobbyists who follow his work. Keith and his wife have been appointed guardians to their young niece whose parents have gone on a sailing trip to the South Pacific. When their lives are lost, Keith realizes his niece’s inheritance, in the form of loose diamonds, had been secured in the yacht and he decided to travel to Tahiti in order to retrieve the jewels.

What follows in a lively, engrossing story about his incredible adventure. As Keith has very little money, he relies on the kindness of friends and admirers to help him travel the vast amount of miles that he needs to cover.

The Trustee From the Toolroom moves quickly and the main character is a simple yet admirable man who is trying to do the right thing by his young relative. Shute himself was an engineer so there was a great deal of technical information that was perhaps a little overdone but certainly added to the authenticity of the book. This was a relaxing, feel good read that leaves you with a smile on your face. ( )

This was the second of Shute's books I've read and I enjoyed very nearly as much as that first. Charming, engrossing, funny and very human. ( )