By the writer of ‘Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café’, this is the story of Maggie Fortenberry’s plan to end it all – neatly and thoughtfully, just like she has lived most of her life. The list of life’s pros and cons constantly changes – she is beautiful and charming, with tickets to see the Whirling Dervishes, but no adoring husband or children, no house on the hill.

Maggie is a realtor and a former Miss Alabama – the latter, an achievement to be proud of, the former, “going to hell in a hand basket”. Secrets are uncovered, confidences shared, strange things happen and her carefully made plan is first postponed and then…

Verdict: A joy to read, like all Flagg’s books. Despite a certain predictability about the ending, this is a beautifully written, delightfully quirky story with eccentric characters. Moving and funny” ****