I read a book a while a go that I'd love to have a copy of as really enjoyed it but I have no idea of the author or title.
It was set in the 1980's and the central chracter was either an investigative journalist or author writing about the lives of a particulary hideous and influential family. I remember one of the women in the family owned farms and supplied horrid frozen food full of additives.
One member of the family was a mad old coot and there is a particularly memorable ending concerning her, an aeroplane and the main character. (Don't want to say too much in case some is reading it, reads this and I spoil the whole thing for them!)