Major Ernest Pettigrew is a conservative, proper Englishman who possesses a rather strong dislike for individuals who lack a proper sense of decorum. So, imagine his horror when he learns of the untimely death of his younger brother, Bertie, via a telephone call (poor form, indeed!). Of course, it is also at that precise moment that he chooses to answer his door to find the lovely Mrs. Jasmina Ali, the local widowed Pakistani shopkeeper, standing on his front stoop while he’s still clad in his bathrobe (the mortification!).
It is this encounter, however, that is the catalyst for the surprising friendship that forms between the Major and Mrs. Ali, an unlikely pair united by their grief — and fondness for all things Kipling. Unfortunately, the small town of Edgecombe St. Mary isn’t exactly welcoming of their budding relationship. To make matters worse, they hardly have the approval of Major Pettigrew’s dreadful, condescending son or Mrs. Ali’s ultra-religious nephew. Will they ever be able to make things work?
Helen Simonson has created a charming, old-fashioned love story that incorporates a slew of social issues without getting too preachy. I enjoyed the subplot regarding Major Pettigrew’s attempt to reunite two highly collectible Churchill shotguns (family drama!). It certainly makes the reader, along with Major Pettigrew, acknowledge that some items in life are worth saving and others must be let go in order to move forward and be truly happy. I think you’ll enjoy this one!
