A dark and compelling story of family secrets and self-discovery from the author of Diary of an Ordinary Woman and Shadow Baby

"Remarkable.disturbing.fascinating" Independent "Makes such uncomfortable reading that at times you can barely turn the page, but it's so compelling that you have to" Mail on Sunday "Nobody is better than Margaret Forster, with her clear calm prose, at delineating the fault lines of the ordinary, unexceptional and hidden lives" -- Jennifer Selway Daily Express "Perfectly paced and with superbly drawn characters, this is a compelling story skilfully told" Choice "Margaret Forster is a brilliant and prolific writer... her latest novel is one of her best. It's a gripping read" Observer

Margaret Forster is the author of many successful and acclaimed novels, including Have the Men Had Enough?, Lady's Maid, Diary of an Ordinary Woman, Is There Anything You Want?, Over and Isa and May, as well as bestselling memoirs (Hidden Lives and Precious Lives) and biographies. She is married to writer and journalist Hunter Davies and lives in London and the Lake District.