The Funeral Crashers

A delightfully heartwarming story of four or more funerals and at least one wedding, from the bestselling author of Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year 'There are a lot of lonely people in the world, Martin. Especially when you get to our age. This is the one place you can come where nobody judges. Besides, you don't need to have known somebody personally to celebrate their life.' Retired academic Martin Pottinger's romantic aspirations for the delectable head of his former university's archaeology department, Professor Mary Blake, seem about to be realised. If only he could devise a plan to manage the demands of his eccentric elderly mother, Edwina. Recently bereaved Grace Cavendish spends her days helping out at All Souls Church, making it her mission to drown out the Reverend Rod's tone-deaf hymn-singing and give each funeral recipient a hearty send-off. Yet the peace she craves remains elusive despite the comforts offered by psychic medium Rhondda and her eight-year-old son, Hudson. When Martin and Grace meet and bond at an All Souls service, they unwittingly set off a chain of events with far-reaching consequences. They become funeral crashers. But who could have predicted that crashing funerals might have such life-changing and life-affirming outcomes? 'A warm, witty and uplifting tale of love in later life . . . I giggled, I was moved, and I now want to join Martin and Grace's choir. This is a story about life in all its mess and glory' CASSIE HAMER 'Delightful and wise, heartfelt, heartbreaking and hilarious . . . a superb reminder that it is never too late in life to rediscover love, joy, redemption and friendship' SARAH CLUTTON 'The perfect summer read' WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN 'Gentle wisdom and light comedy pervade The Funeral Crashers . . . a kind-hearted, life-affirming read' THE AGE Praise for the beloved novels of Joanna Nell including The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village: 'Takes readers on a sweet journey' AUSTRALIAN 'Tender and funny' WOMAN'S WEEKLY 'Her best yet . . . a wonderful read about growing older and grabbing hold of life' WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN 'A delight. Warm characters and observations and great pace' AMANDA HAMPSON 'This heartwarming story about growing old gracefully - and disgracefully . . . is a funny, witty and thoroughly enjoyable read for all ages' DAILY TELEGRAPH