This is a bizarre mean-spirited book. Two stars is generous, actually. I almost abandoned it in the middle and I am pretty sorry I finished it. There is something disjointed and incomplete about the character development; it is impossible to feel for anyone but Joan and even there, it strains credulity to imagine her passivity. The way in which the characters interact and respond to each other makes no sense. I’ve rather liked other books by Margot Livesey this one is just nasty.