Close Quarters: A Novel (Angela Thirkell Barsetshire Series)

To me this is the best of the last few books about Barsetshire. Although dealing throughout with the sad themes of death and its aftermath it manages to feel fresher than some of Angela Thirkell's other later books in the series. I feel that this is down to the strongly written character of Margo who we have seen develop in Jutland Cottage and who now emerges as a fully rounded person in the face of a time of difficulty. Nicely oberved social commentary as usual adds to the enjoyable blend.