The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones
It is not often that a book surprises me, but The Uninvited Guests did.
At first glance, The Uninvited Guests appears to bea country house comedy of manners– Jane Austen with a touch of Nancy Mitford.
Emerald, brother Clovis, and little Smudge (Imogene) Torrington live with their mother and one-armed stepfather in a no longer affordable pile called Sterne. On Emerald’s 20th birthday, her stepfather travels to the city to save the property from foreclosure. The rest of the family remains behind to prepare an elaborate birthday party.
Unfortunately, there is a train accident, and the Torrington’s must house the survivors (third-class travelers!) until the railroad sends another car. To tell you what happens would spoil the suspense, but surely this would never happen at Elizabeth and Darcy’s house!
Highly recommended.