Review of 'The Funeral Crashers' by Joanna Nell
Review of The Funeral Crashers by Joanna Nell
Release date: October 29th, 2025
Publisher: Hachette Australia
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REVIEW
What a story! Joanna Nell never ceases to amaze and inspire me with her excellent writing and to make me both laugh and cry in equal measures. Her quirky senior characters are always warm, witty, feisty and so relatable. She touches on concerns for the aged and the less-than-fun changes in life. Loneliness for one example. Direct from the lips of character Grace Cavendish and as stated in the publisher’s blurb: ‘'There are a lot of lonely people in the world, Martin. Especially when you get to our age.’
I spent a lot of time hanging out with seniors in my younger years. I found their stories and viewpoints fascinating. Maybe it was (and still is!) my interest in history that pulled me towards them but I also felt great compassion and sympathy for their losses and extreme loneliness. These were some of the reasons I often took my guitar into the senior facilities, played and sang songs for them and listened to their stories. I learned a great deal in the presence of those who had seen numerous changes in their lifetimes. The wisdom I gleaned in those moments never failed me. And now that my own mother is approaching very late years, I know even more how important it is to take time to talk and share experiences.
Joanna has a real gift for shining light on troubled areas of aging. But she also offers words of wisdom in the text and dialogue that are stellar. So many phrases, actions and reactions remind me of what I learned while sitting with seniors. They imparted their advice and related their experiences to an impressionable teenager at that time. The expressions Joanna uses, through the characters, are familiar so I felt right at home between these pages that are filled with both the delights and agonies of growing older.
Loneliness, grief and social isolation are often common in the later years due to deteriorating health, lessening of social interactions and dramatic loss of long-time friends, family members and spouses who have passed away. Loneliness can lead to bigger issues such as depression, cognitive decline and anxiety. As noted in the novel, seniors can also become a target for scams. This novel, The Funeral Crashers, addresses, exposes and confirms this as Martin’s mom and others discover what it is like to become a victim of those who prey on unsuspecting souls.
But The Funeral Crashers is also about friendship, finding love, learning to let go and second starts. This heart-warming story written from Grace’s and Martin’s viewpoints, is a real gem. Even though a sense of purpose is often lost when people retire or get much older, these two remain active as they still have much to offer their community.
Grace helps out at the All Souls Church. She sings at funerals hoping to give the deceased a pleasant send off (by drowning out the tone deaf minister’s voice!). Martin attends one of the funeral services, meets Grace and they bond. Grace asks him to join her at other funerals to sings hymns, judge carrot cake and have long chats. The funerals become a setting for their social gatherings. Over the course of chapters, we get to know these two quite well: their quirks, habits, foibles and virtues. They are such ‘relatable’ characters, it is easy to care about them and their journeys. These ‘funeral crashers' explore their issues and work out solutions that lead to life-changing events. Especially after they inherit a large sum of money from a strange will request. They each have to decide whether to keep the sudden windfall or share it with charities. This process will teach them new things about themselves.
Martin, is a retired academic with a weakness for archaeology collectibles. These items give him a sense of comfort. But do these things take the place of people? And are they more precious to him than his mother (as she says)? He gets caught up in a bidding war at an auction—in his passion to acquire an item he desires. But the lessons he learns from that and other experiences are more valuable than his unique collection.
Grace has a big heart and has, it seems, unlimited compassion for others. This is one of her virtues but will this get her into trouble? Her love of children, especially ones who need extra attention, is seen in her relationship with eight year old Hudson, son of the psychic medium, Rhonnda. Grace initially speaks to Rhonnda about her late daughter Melody as a way to process her grief. These psychic meetings serve a purpose to appease her guilt and sadness. But as these two women get to know each other, their relationship expands. As a reader, it’s easy to wonder if this woman is a scammer or an authentic struggling single mother as Grace believes? Suspicions run high at times but we do learn the truth eventually.
The title of this novel The Funeral Crashers is so appropriate. Plus the topic of death and planning funerals are in keeping with discussions we have often later in life. Although this a serious topic, Joanna has added priceless humour throughout the novel. It becomes the comic relief we need in dealing with the difficult topics of grief, death, loss and loneliness. Laughter is the best medicine, no matter your age, and it is good for us to laugh at ourselves sometimes (as the characters discover)!
This a brilliant novel in so many ways—it addresses concerns seniors have and sheds light on what is important in life. We are taken on an exhilarating ride through Grace and Martin’s life. We discover who they are, what they learn and most of all, how they grow in new areas. When Martin says Grace is brave for helping the community by singing at all those funerals, she insists she is not. She tells him she has already faced her greatest fear (death of her daughter), and ‘there is nothing left to be afraid of’ now. Fear has lost its sting. Martin apologises for talking about death and cancer and Grace reminds him (and us) how important it is to discuss these things. By doing so, they lose their power over us. Sitting in silence and isolation only weakens us and allows fear to get a grip on our hearts. Being part of a community and sharing is so vital for this will lighten the burdens, strengthen the heart and fuel hope. Again, that is why everyone, including seniors, and those confined, need social interaction with others.
The Funeral Crashers shines with so many beautiful messages through beloved flawed characters who teach us that working through guilt, regrets and sorrow— paves the way for freedom, thanksgiving and joy. I loved The Funeral Crashers from cover to cover and highly recommend it! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
PS. I wonder if there is a little nod in the subtitle to the movie title and humour of ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’?