Heartbreak Hotel

By Deborah Moggach

This hilarious irreverent romp takes us to Knockton, Powys where the irrepressible Russell ‘Buffy’ Buffery has inherited a run-down B&B.

Buffy has had a career of highs and lows and has experienced everything that London could offer. Now in his twilight years the idea of moving to deepest Wales intrigues him, so with nothing to lose, Russell embarks on a new venture holding courses for divorcees, teaching them skills like car maintenance, gardening and cookery, thereby getting his chores done for free.

Buffy's guests include: Harold, whose wife has run off with a younger woman; Amy, who's been unexpectedly dumped by her (not-so) weedy boyfriend and Andy, the hypochondriac postman whose girlfriend is much too much for him to handle. Under Buffy's tutelage, these casualties of the marriage-go-round find themselves re-learning all those skills never thought they'd need again, and a whole lot more besides...

4 stars