The Dearly Departed

by Elinor Lipman

With her trademark humor and warmth, the beloved author of The Ladies' Man and The Inn at Lake Devine explores going home again; about finding light in the dark corners of one's inhospitable past; about love, golf, and DNA. Everyone in King George, New Hampshire, loved Margaret Batten, part-time amateur actress, full-time wallflower, and single mother to a now-distant daughter, Sunny. But accidents happen. The death of Margaret, side by side with her putative fiancé, brings Sunny back to the scene of the unhappy adolescence she thought she’d left behind. Reentry is to be dreaded; there’s no hiding in a town with one diner, one doctor, one stop sign, one motel. Yet allies surface; even high school tormentors have grown up in unforeseen and gratifying ways. Just possibly, Sunny begins to think, she wasn’t as beleaguered as she felt she was. And maybe her mother’s life was richer than anyone suspected. Add to the mix a chief of police whose interest in Sunny exceeds his civic duty, and you have the makings of an irresistibly beguiling tale from an author who writes with all the wit and wry authority of a latter-day Jane Austen.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Audiobook, Book Club, Womens Fiction

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2001

About the author

I love talking with readers - for 1:1s and Book Club visits, find me on Skolay: www.skolay.com/writers/elinor-lipman

Elinor Lipman is the author of 14 humorous novels about contemporary American society; essay and short story collections. Born and raised in Lowell, MA, she divides her time between Manhattan and the Hudson Valley of New York. She received the New England Book award for fiction in 2001. Her first novel, "Then She Found Me," was adapted for the screen, starring Helen Hunt, Bette Midler, Colin Firth and Matthew Broderick. Her fourth novel, "The Inn at Lake Devine" was adapted for the off-off Broadway stage by Tongue in Cheek Theater. In 2011-2012, she held the Elizabeth Drew chair in creative writing at Smith College. Her novel, “Ms. Demeanor," was a finalist for the 2023 Thurber Prize for American Humor. In 2021, her hometown Library, Pollard Memorial Library in Lowell, established The Elinor Lipman Prize, awarded annually to Lowell residents and students at Lowell universities.

Reviews

[Raina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Elinor Lipman's books. Her writing style is light and insightful and funny and deft, however, this one seemed to fall short of her usual mark as it was a bit too predictable. I loved the characters and loved that it's a nice, easy read...but I find that I really preferred her other books more.

That said, let me defend The Dearly Departed. Her story has a great premise - the daughter of a single mother and the son of a single father learn that their parents have died at the same time (from a gas leak that leadto carbon monoxide poisoning). The strange thing is that, arriving to the double funeral, they find they look uncannily alike (they both have wispy, prematurely-white hair - a feature they apparently shared with his father). Lipman doesn't keep us in suspense, we pretty much learn right away that he is the father to both of them, the daughter being the result of a long-standing affair between the two parents. What happens as the characters try to untangle this story is our entertainment as it's almost like A Comedy of Errors, in a way, with everyone using a different set of assumptions to operate and slight misunderstandings and mis-timed overtures at every turn.

The only complaint I could possibly have was that Lipman just didn't seem to see the need to "raise the stakes" - her characters just poked around the small town, figuring things out and talking to each other and things came to a conclusion. I didn't mind, though it's unusual nowadays not to have a bomb or a pregnancy or a deadline in a story to make it keep pace with 24 and give us an adrenaline rush. Basically, once I figured out that I wasn't waiting for zombies or anything I really enjoyed the story. Which is the point, after all, of a novel.

Lipman's books look as if they must be 'guilty pleasure' books, but I swear they're good! Just don't read this one first or you may not return for more. Lipman has a singular voice and dry sense of humor. They're in a class of books that is hard to come by--maybe not 'literary fiction' but fun, well-written studies of people.

[Luanne Oleas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be my favorite Elinor Lipman novel so far. Maybe I'm just morbid, but having it start with two accidental deaths and uncovering the secrets of the deceased lives post mortem intrigued me.

Sunny lost her mother, Fletcher lost his father, and one of them lost both. (No spoilers.) It all happens in a little burg named King George, NH, where everyone knows everyone's business.

I think one of the interesting aspects of the novel was how much baggage Sunny carried from high school even at 31. Maybe returning to her home town brought it all back but I think we all have those vague tendencies. Once in grammar school, someone says you have a big nose, and you still remember that when you turn 80. In Sunny's case, she was an excellent golfer who made the guys' varsity team in high school. However, as the first female ever on the team, not to mention the best golfer on the team, she took a lot of flack for trying to be part of the team.

Insecurities abound in this story. The local doctor has them, a political candidate has them, her campaign manager has them, and even the chief of police is riddled with self-doubt. Seeing all those neuroses connected by a dead man and woman is the fun of the plot.

Lipman really turned on her storytelling chops to write The Dearly Departed. I had a ball reading it.

[Peggy Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunny returns to her hometown to bury her mother. She finds she may have a half-brother and a different father than the one she thought. While dealing with her unhappy past life in the town and her mothers newly-learned past, Sunny finds a future that's not all that bad.

A smoothy written book full of colorful characters.

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is like many other Lipman novels: wry, fun, smart, impeccably paced and with the type of side characters that always puts me in mind of Nora Ephron. I always look forward to reading her books.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quietly moving book about surprises in the aftermath of unexpected deaths.

[Michelle Abramson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elinor Lipman never disappoints.

[Mary Hale · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t like Fletcher. Maybe at the end he redeemed himself a bit. But the few chapters with him towards the end really dragged and brought the book down. I liked Sunny and Joey and wish the focus had been on them more.

[Ruth Rocap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love author's sense of humor!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little romp that begins with two funerals and ends with two romances.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Dearly Departed follows in typical Lipman style of wit and a wry look at family dynamics with a strong female lead named Sunny who tries to change her past history. It is not my favorite Lipman book, but it still was a good read.
Sunny returns home to her small town where she was a star golfer but bullied and belittled by her high school coach and team. She has not gotten over her unhappy adolescence and rarely returns home, preferring to leave the past in the past, and moving on with her life. But when her mother dies suddenly of carbon monoxide poisoning in her house, alongside her lover, Sunny comes home for the funeral. There she slowly discovers more about her mother's true nature, and the truth about who her previously unknown father was. Additionally there is a plot involving a brother and an old friend, but I didn't find those as interesting.
Lipman has been compared to a modern day Jane Austen, writing of family interactions, pointing out our human flaws with sly humor, and creating characters with depth and understanding. She is an author to follow if you have not read her before, I recommend The Inn at Lake Devine first. The Dearly Departed was a fun, light, easy read.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know what, I really liked this. It was published in 2001, and it's funny to think about what has changed in the past 24 years. Set in a lake community in New Hampshire, this is a small-town novel that isn't cozy. It's weird and sad and hilarious and so refreshing because the characters are all so very much themselves. Sunny and Fletcher learn of each other's existence because her mother and his father died from carbon monoxide poisoning in the house where Sunny grew up, which backs onto a golf course. When they arrive at the funeral, it's obvious to Fletcher that they are half-siblings, and he's not subtle about telling Sunny and indeed the whole town about it. Sunny and Fletcher both face uncomfortable truths about their parents lives, and in turn their own. Minor characters who actually feel pretty major are the town police chief, who had a crush on Sunny in middle school, and Fletcher's former (?) employer who ran unsuccessfully for public office before her campaign dwindled down to nothing. I always enjoy Lipman's books. I will read more of them.

[Sharyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe I have never read this author. At some point one of my bookclubs was supposed to read The Inn at lake Devine, which I plan to read now. However, I picked this book off of a library sale table because I am going to see her talk about her newest book in May.
This book was full of characters I truly liked, especially Sunny, Joe and Fletcher. The relationship between Sunny and Fletcher was subtly hinted at on the first page, "No DNA test result, no hints in will, could be more eloquent than this: the silver corona of signature hair above their 31 year old , identically furrowed brows." I was hooked. Sunny and Fletcher met for the 1st time at their parents' funeral. The snappy dialogue is always something I love in a book, and Sunny and Joe also share this trait. Small town New Hampshire, theatre groups, town Dr. , all of these impact the story and almost make you want to visit, if not live there. So give this book a try and see if you agree with me.

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elinor Lipman is a master of writing stories with lots of moving pieces that fit together effortlessly, and that's exactly what she does in The Dearly Departed is. The title sounds fairly dour and the subject matter might as well — Sunny is called back to her hometown in New Hampshire after her mother and her mother's paramour are found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning. There is no foul play, but some gossip starts swirling in the small town. Adding to that is the fact that Sunny brings with her some baggage from her high school years as the only female on the golf team who got ribbed by all the guys. Plus, the deceased boyfriend's brash son comes and his likeness to Sunny stuns everyone.

This book is full of great characters — a sheriff with heart eyes, a weepy town doctor, a gossipy waitress — and quippy lines. It's light but smart and so readable.

+ Jen Taylor narrates the audio version and she's pitch perfect.

[Julie Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find Lipman's books interesting because she delves into personalities and how they act and react. I like that you don't have to endure earthshaking calamities to enjoy her books. This one started slow for me. But it went smoothly from middle to end and the characters became more engaging. I think my problem was the beginning had a lot of backstory and I liked it better when current. But it was good.

[Morgen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunny's mom has been found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning beside her latest love, so Sunny returns to her hometown and finds the fiance's son looks strikingly like her. Is he actually her brother? She finds the local cop, who was her high school friend, and learns that her mom led an active life she knew little about. Sounds soapy, but it was brisk and entertaining.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read quite a few novels by Elinor Lipman and this is one of her best! The characters are charming, well developed, and a pleasure to spend time with. The plot moves along and I didn’t want to put the book down. The dialogue often brought a big smile to my face, the characters were so endearing. Lipman’s novels are like being wrapped in a warm hug.

[Nancy Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't usually read books like this and can't really figure out how it got on my list. People died but not through murder. This was simply a tale of family. But it was a nice story and while I didn't feel urgently I had to finish it it was pleasant and I liked how it ended.

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful, charming, funny, insightful, refreshing. When reading Lipman, I often wonder (with some envy) what it would be like to have her for a friend, adding her witty descriptions and amusing asides to cocktail hour. I can't think of anyone who is better at dialogue than she.

[Kendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Fluffy rom-com (light-hearted? premise of heroine's homecoming for her mom's funeral and reconnecting with the townfolk) with a few characters that grow a little grating as the story goes on.

[Wynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another enjoyable Lipman read. Great for a day on the airplane.
Sunny, a gifted golfer, has returned to her home town to buy her mother. Mom left with some secrets which are revealed as Sunny makes arrangements. Friends she did not know she had help her in the process.

[Mary Crotty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love her books!

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good little vacation book. I really liked all of the characters, even the ones who were total jerks!
A fun summer read.

[Julias14 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seem to love everything Elinor Lipman writes. I listened to this and it was well done.

[V · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standard Lipman fare, which I will continue to consume. Strange family situation + humor = entertainment in the car.

[Kimberly Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read with well-drawn characters. I will be reading more from Elinor Lipman. I loved her writing!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunny returns to her hometown upon the unexpected death of her mother and ends of facing up to some painful memories. Full of Lipman's oddball characters and wry humor.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy, fun reading.

[Linda Aull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Purely a pleasure read. Quirky characters and dialogue- driven plot - easy to read, but if you look carefully, this is a wickedly witty story

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an easy read. The two main characters find each other when each experiences a loss. They have more in common than they first realize. I read the book quickly.