Police procedural set in HAMPSHIRE and TYNE & WEAR
Novel set in a “small country town” in ENGLAND
31st March 2026
The Barbecue at No. 9 by Jennie Godfrey, novel set in a “small country town” in England.
I read this novel for Grazia Book Club, March 2026.
The scene is set just a couple of days before the iconic Live Aid Concert on 13 July 1985, and then the narrative swiftly moves to the actual day itself. Lydia and Gordon are hosting a barbecue (“possibly the height of aspiration”) in their beautiful house, whilst the television will serve as a connection to this momentous event.
This is the story of residents living in a modern development, to wit the cul-de-sac of Delmont Close in a small country town somewhere in England. Chapters highlight a countdown to the start of the concert whilst perusing the lives of several of the invitees, who may – or may not – attend. The hierarchy of residents is already established depending on the house ‘type’ they have chosen to live in, and the hosts are (of course) ensconced in one of the biggest and best in the development.
What starts out as an entertaining trawl through the lives of various characters ends on a darker note. There are plenty of secrets to seep out, some have festered for years, some are just coming to a crescendo that will rock lives (no pun intended given the theme of the novel). The light and humorous tone gives way to real life issues, which deftly slide into the narrative. Who is the person who has been skulking in the back lane? What history might Rita, the erstwhile vicar’s wife, have? How can Steve ever recover from his PTSD resulting from his experiences in the Falklands War? It is testament to the author that she has a light storytelling hand that can also accommodate deeply affecting real life issues.
The author – who would have been relatively young herself in the Summer of 1985 – captures the era very
well, with mentions of Margo Leadbetter (a very popular TV character at the time and whom she sets in context for the unitiated), citing popular books, beverages and food (people actually ate and enjoyed Twiglets back in the day!). Occasionally her enthusiasm, though, feels a little laboured. Her eye for era-correct detail also extends to the idiosyncrasies of her characters, who are all beautifully drawn and individual. It is a very inspired construct to pace the story alongside the hourly progression of the concert and she pulls the concept off.
That said, it is best not to scrutinise the storyline too much – one of the characters has abandoned their teenage child and that whole story seems quite fanciful. And the woman who is the snob in the story has a total personality change towards the end of the novel, which is discombobulating.
Overall this is a pleasurable read that doesn’t shy away from difficult issues.
Tina for the TripFiction Team
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