Dead Ernest: What goes on behind closed doors...?

An unforgettable new voice in women’s fiction! Perfect for fans of Marian Keyes, Rachel Joyce and Jojo Moyes…

When you have been married for sixty years and your husband suddenly dies, how do you start again?


No one had expected Ernest to die, least of all Ernest…

Ernest Bentley was a pillar of the community. But when he suddenly dies of a heart attack his wife Annie refuses to have the words ‘beloved husband’ added to his gravestone. Worried about how she will cope on her own after the bereavement the local vicar, Andrew, starts to visit her.

Before she knows what is happening, Annie finds herself telling Andrew things she has kept hidden for years. Dark secrets that had plagued her marriage to Ernest.

When Annie’s estranged granddaughter, Ophelia, turns up for a visit, the two quickly realise how much they have in common. But when Ophelia meets Andrew, the unhappily married vicar, things start to get very complicated…

What is the truth about Ernest? Why is Annie behaving so strangely now that he is dead?

And how can Andrew reconcile his growing feelings for Ophelia with his respect for his religion?

Spanning from the Second World War to the present day, DEAD ERNEST is a poignant, moving and, at times, very funny look at love, marriage and family life, dealing with issues of abuse and heartbreak to make a beautifully sensitive and inspirational novel.

"Beautifully written, deceptively simple, with convincingly drawn and endearing characters...a delightful read" - Andrew Davies

“Witty, original and engaging. A wonderful read from the classic opening line to the deeply moving conclusion” - L C Tyler, author of the John Grey historical series and the Herring Mysteries.

"shot through with a sense of human sympathy transcending its situations; and that in itself is a considerable achievement" - Church Times

"Garrood's debut is assured and thought provoking" - Kelly Salter, Big Issue Cymru

"Remarkably well written and well constructed" - Michael Allen, Grumpy Old Bookman

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