The caretaker of a cemetery in a small French town, Violette Toussaint spends her days tending her garden, convening with her eccentric colleagues, and offering tea and solace to mourners. When a police officer shows up, needing her help to solve a mystery about his recently deceased mother, his digging around unearths details of Violette's tragic past, offering a path toward hope and happiness in the process. This big, engrossing novel, rich with poetic language, irresistible characters, and profound human insight, is the kind of book you fall in love with. I've added it to my top five favorite novels of all time. (AG)