Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Widower Major Ernest Pettigrew, 68, suffers a shock when his younger brother, Bertie, dies of a heart attack. Seeing that he is thrown off-balance, Mrs. Ali, a local shopkeeper, provides tea and sympathy. He finds himself charmed. In their small village of Edgecombe St. Mary, there are, of course, objections to their relationship, since Jasmina is Pakistani and working class. In addition, the Major is somewhat preoccupied with his son, Roger, who lives in London and is a heartless businessman. One further complication is the Major's desire to reunite his father's antique shotguns that were separated--one was given to him and the other went to Bertie. But with Bertie's passing, the Major feels both guns should be in his possession. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand is a delightful and cozy novel in the tradition of A Guide to the Birds of East Africa and A Gentleman's Guide to Graceful Living.