Love, Lies & Linguine

Don’t assume by sister Hester and Harriet’s names, nor by Spiers’ holiday escape from cottage England to romantic Italy, that this sequel is cosy reading. Think Heston Blumenthal with a blowtorch. You only have to depart Gatwick, leaving the widowed siblings’ adopted family behind, for some hightailing on “the Amaretto coast”.

Spiers is an unflagging storyteller, and her hostesses are the most TV-begging characters ever. Hester moans, “You’ve brought me to a holiday camp,” when she spies the hotel’s activities, but bonds with available grey nomad Lionel, on a cooking course – “we both love going-off-recipe”. Retired teacher Harriet, meanwhile, hangs in the bar with the bridge set, and tries a painting course, where she becomes confidante of a woman in an affair. “Is he married?” enquires Hettie. “Yes, she is,” replies her new pal. Back in Blighty, Ben has been hoodwinked into having a party at his aunts’ cottage.

”I’ve sent a closed invite on Facebook,” assures mate

Jez. That’s the love and lies. Just the linguine then.