‘Stop it!’ Marion barked. ‘You are meant to be friends. This is a book club, not a cat fight.’ Her brown eyes were angry and she stared at Kim and Toni with contempt. ‘This is my house and I won’t have it. I’m telling you that for nothing.’ Her thick Yorkshire accent bounced off the walls of her living room.

Pauline remained hovering, not sure where to sit – or even if she should. It was unlike her. Normally Pauline was extremely sure of herself and commanded the room. She was a tall woman, with a square jaw and an infamous stubborn streak. Seeing her thrown off-kilter like this was pleasing to some of the group, particularly Kim, who had taken a dislike to her the very first time they met nearly nine months ago.

Pauline had, at one time, been a manager at the local WH Smith on Market Street and, as a result, thought she knew more about the book world than anyone else on the planet. This irritated just about everyone in the group except Barbara, who took everything in her stride, and was not easily wound up by anyone except Geoff, her husband, who had died six years earlier. Despite him often irritating her, she missed him every day and he had been the love of her life. Now her life was quiet and empty, apart from the company of her two rescue cats, and the book club once a week.

In between meetings though, the women would often chat via Facebook. Barbara in particular relied heavily on the social media platform to fill her days. The book club had its own group page, of which sixteen women were members, although the core consisted of ten women, nine of whom were due at Marion’s house that day.

On the group page, the women would post pictures of the books they were reading, leave reviews for the others to see, and fill the page with other bits and pieces that were loosely connected to anything bookish.

‘Well, I for one am enjoying myself.’ Kim leant forward to clink glasses with Shirley, who looked sheepish and refused. ‘What’s wrong with you all? You’re all so boring!’ Kim reached for the bottle of wine and topped up her glass.

‘Leave then,’ Toni sneered. ‘I don’t know why you bother to come.’

‘Ha!’ Kim threw back her head. ‘I come because I love winding you up!’ Janet stifled a laugh and Marion threw her a glance that said, watch it.

‘Oh, fuck it.’ Kim got to her feet and slammed her wine glass on the coffee table. ‘I’m out of here.’

Barbara, who was looking distressed by the whole situation, put her hand up to her mouth. She couldn’t abide bad language or confrontation.

‘I think that might be best.’ Marion stood and led Kim out of the living room, leaving the rest of the group stunned into silence.