I loved The Labyrinth and The Conversion was written in much the same way.

Nick had tried to persuade Zoe to buy an old run down church which they can renovate and live in. Their sons are grown up and have moved away. She could never see his vision for it as all she can see are the stained-glass windows and the isolation of a small country town in a valley of coal mines and vineyards.

Yet she finds herself buying the church and moving in alone, looking to start her life alone.  She is stuck unable to move forward with converting the building into a home. Along the way she manages to strike up friendships with formidable women and somehow comes to a decision about what to do.

This is a gentle novel drawing the reader into Zoe’s world for what she has lost, her past and the difficulty she faces with what her future will look like.  The conversion of the church conjures up the ghosts of her lost relationships but it does also inspire new ones.

I enjoyed the characters which crossed Zoe’s path and I understood her loss and the betrayal she felt. Her inertia was palpable as she camped out in the church. Melanie, a powerful force turns up and convinces her that the church is the only place for a school concert. A friendship of sorts is promised but is never satisfied.

I was also interested in the relationships with her two sons. One who is married with children provides her with support and comfort while the other is virtually estranged. I would have loved the author to delve more into that. But like most things in the novel, we are given glimpses into Zoe’s past life and for the most part that is enough.

The writing is beautiful and the scene setting visual. I enjoyed this one.