Night Music by Jojo Moyes.

                Night Music by Jojo Moyes.

"There was nothing gentle about grief. It launched itself at you like a rogue wave on the seafront, flooding you, threatening to pull you under."

This is Moyes' sixth book. She has an unusual Christian name doesn't she? Her parents were artists and named her after a famous Beatles' song. But I'm sure you probably knew that! The two main female characters are strong and tough although we see their vulnerabilities and plenty of tears. They are meant to be very different, one more Mother Earth, typically a home-maker, the other a professional musician who has chosen a career before her husband and family.

Do they have anything in common? The Spanish house and betrayal by the men they loved. After a lot of soul-searching and intensity they both have second chances. Isabel moves on at an alarming rate unlike Laura who relished the opportunity to be loved by a faithful and honest man only to be drawn back to her pathetic, unfaithful wreck of a husband.

Laura McCarthy is a wonderful woman, late thirties, handsome, lean and agile. She had been married to Matt for 18 years. Her mother had disapproved of the marriage. She had warned Laura that he was unsuitable and Laura had invested a lot of money into the marriage to enable them to buy property and land. She loved Matt in spite of his flings. They had a level-headed and decent boy called Anthony who disliked his father's lies and philandering.

Laura had been looking after Samuel Frederick Pottisworth for 9 years, running after him and cooking for him. He was a despicable man who leered and made suggestive comments about her clothes and figure. He had promised the McCarthys his Spanish house when he died to show his gratitude and this kept Laura and Matt going. Matt had already had plans drawn up concerning renovation and extensions. As for Laura she had mentally dressed the windows and recovered every inch of the floor. She knew exactly how the house would look when it was hers. Being able to move into this grand house would be enough to show her parents that she had made the right decision in marrying Matt. Everything would be okay.

An unexpected stroke of luck meant that Pottisworth died sooner than later. At his funeral, just as the McCarthys were celebrating their good fortune, the solicitor, Derek Wendell drops the bombshell-the old man had not made a will and there was one remaining relative who would inherit the house. Laura's world seem to fall away " like the segment of an orange."

Isabel Delancey was a professional violinist, in fact she had worked her way up to become lead violinist in the City Symphonia. Music had been her obsession and had taken priority to boys, marriage and families. Whilst trying to establish her career at the age of 20 she had unexpectedly fallen in love with a French man 12 years her senior, recently divorced. Like Laura, her parents disapproved. Even the vicar made remarks about the number of mistresses she would have to tolerate. You'll understand the irony of this remark once you read the book. Impulsively she married and became pregnant after her honeymoon. Kitty was born then later, Thierry. She wasn't cut out to be a mother and persuaded Laurent to employ Mary as a nanny, cook and general housewife. This released her from the guilt and pressures of domesticity so that she could travel to Europe and play.

Laurent had died suddenly in a  car crash more than 9 months ago and Mr Cartwright, her solicitor informed her that her late husband had had debts and that downsizing might be the only option. Or perhaps she would sell her precious violin? Isabel's choice? Sell the house and break her children's heart or sell her violin and break her own? Not easy. Kitty was now 15 and Thierry 8. They had had a privileged lifestyle, having had every affordable luxury possible. That was going to change.

Isabel felt a sense of amputation as she tried to blot out the encroaching grief. Mountains of bills, unopened letters gathered dust. Her grief was so consuming she couldn't deal with practical matters. Kitty opened one of the letters and thought someone was playing a joke on them. She told her mother that someone had left Isabel a house! Would this solve Isabel's financial difficulty or would it create more heartache?

The house was in Norfolk. Isabel had fond memories of visiting this glorious place when she attended a garden party as a child. She did not know the history behind that house particularly McCarthy's obsession to own the house to get revenge for the way the Pottisworths had destroyed his father. Isabel Delancey proves to be an easy target for a determined Matt. But there are surprises in store and some happy endings. I call it pure unadulterated delight.

Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton.  ISBN: 978-0340-895962.

REVIEW it by Carol Naylor.

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