I already do not like this book (but am the "have to finish it anyway" type. Like you said, there is no central character, except the man who dies on the first page. I do not like ANY of the people in the book, the children are all nasty, and the adults are maladjusted. I'm glad someone else finds it difficult to keep up with the many characters, and their children, and their spouses, and their story. it is so grubby, is that the way rural England really is?

I think Rowland is a terrific writer, in general, but this book is too off-putting. I do not recommend it.

and characters are depressing.
I passed on it for that reason.

But I'm not sure what it is other than living in small towns is really horrible.

I really wonder what her childhood was like.
Apparently her father was an aircraft engineer but she didn't get along with him.

She was also a big fan of Jessica Mitford who's famous for writing "The American Way of Death", an exposé of the secretive and exploitive funeral industry.

I was hoping that Duers would get it because the reviewers on Amazon don't seem to. I think that it is about our responsibilities to ourselves, our families, and society. All the characters were deficient in these aspects, including the guy who died who neglected his family somewhat. Even though Fats and Krystal bore the brunt of the responsibility for Robbie's death, it was telling how many other people neglected him as well. The only person who tried to save him was the persecuted Sikh girl (sorry forgot the spelling of her name). In that act and giving him and Krystal a proper funeral, she was able to come out of her misery and stop cutting herself. I think that there are some other themes as well. I think that I need to read it again though and perhaps find some kind of study guide on it.
I think this book is trying to say something. I don't think that it's really meant to be enjoyable, but that doesn't mean that it isn't a good book.