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At three o'clock in the morning, that defenceless hour when anything feels possible, the Idyll Inn's only sounds are the low hum and thrum a building makes to keep itself going. An uneasy hour, it is also the most discreet time for unsavoury acts. If all goes well, there will be no repercussions¿At three o'clock in the morning, four people convene in one room to do the unthinkable. All four harbour secrets - of betrayal, sex, fear, and guilt - but all four are united in their loathing of the director of the Inn. Fuelled by Sylvia's secret wine stash, they begin to confess to past demeanours, to abandonment and hope, to questions of love and loyalty. But then one of them asks a question that no one is prepared for...Exit Lines is a wry, funny but also terribly poignant novel about life's turning points and about how we adapt and change. It is about growing old disgracefully and tackles the 'Big Questions' with a refreshing lightness of touch.
"This new novel will further enhance her reputation as an intelligent, stylish and original writer... Biting, sly, sardonic, are the adjectives that best describe Barfoot's voice. But Exit Lines is far more than a darkly funny and clever exercise about the plight of the elderly. It is a fine, tautly paced ensemble piece."
MONTREAL GAZETTE
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