Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure: A Novel

In Surrey, England in 1938, Ellie Endicott's thirty-year marriage ends when her husband requests a divorce. Rather than accept her circumstances, she decides to leave—taking the Bentley and leaving him the house. She sets out for the South of France with her housekeeper Mavis and elderly friend Dora, each seeking their own escape. Their journey leads them to Saint Benet, a small fishing hamlet where the Bentley breaks down. Ellie rents an abandoned villa in the nearby hills and begins building a new life among the villagers. She develops a connection with Nico, a local fisherman, and finds unexpected friendship and community. As war threatens to encroach on their peaceful refuge, Ellie's second chapter unfolds in ways she did not anticipate. The novel follows her journey of resilience and reinvention during this turbulent historical period.