"The phoenix ballroom" by Ruth Hogan

Venetia (74) attends the funeral of her husband Hawk (84) in the church where they were married. Liberty (48, single after a long affair with her married boss) has found out that her mother didn't leave her the house. She's left something in trust that she'll get if she behaves appropriately, according to stipulations that were left with the solicitor. Liberty becomes Venitia's helper.

Venitia's son Heron has gone with his wife to France, leaving their 10 y.o. son Kite in a nearby boarding school. He feels different from the other boys. Venetia shows him that she's different too - she's bald. He runs away, then becomes a dayboy. Heron's marriage is in trouble.

The ballroom where Venetia and Hawk met has become a meeting place for a spiritualist church. Liberty's mother used to go to it. It's threatened with closure. They all go to help at the drop-in.

2 male guests at the wake haven't been identified. There are hints that Hawk might have had a gay history. Venetia buys the old ballroom. Kite finds old posters and programmes in the ballroom's attic, plus a sign that someone's been up there. Venetia hints of some old unpleasantness there involving a man.

Crow watches from a distance. His wife left him, he drank and he's homeless in Bedford. He's Polish. He visits the ballroom attic sometimes, leaving origami pieces for Kite. There's a fire while he's there. He breaks a leg.

Hawk had saved Venetia from an attempted rape that had caused her to lose her hair. Her lack of confidence caused her to stop seeing her dance partner and marry Hawk.

One of the mystery men turns out to have been Hawk's love of his life. When the ballroom re-opens, Venetia's old widowered dance partner turns up. Heron's wife has left him. He and Liberty seem happy together, so the solicitor gives her the keys to a beach house. Crow becomes the building's caretaker.

I don't like "she thought to herself" or "he smiled to himself" but such phrases seem commonplace nowadays.

Other reviews

• dearauthor (Some tragedy occurs ... but no one lets these things keep them down or depressed. ... There’s no sense that anything will end badly for these people. No tension and no spice. For readers looking for a book that is the equivalent of a dozen sugary donuts, washed down with sweet ice tea while gently swinging in a hammock on a not too humid or hot day, this should fit the bill. )