When Jimmy Hood buys Sweynsend Hall and marries the girl next door, he knows that some tragedy has occurred to make the Carew family want to leave the dilapidated place after generations, but it is no concern of his. Once weekend he brings home Lucas, who has been working for him in St Petersburg, and is surprised to find that he and Teresa know one another. The meeting prompts Teresa to give Jimmy an account of Sweynsend under the Carews and Lucas's friendship with its last owner, William Carew, who was once engaged to her sister. Shadowing Teresa's disclosure of her former love for Lucas is Jimmy's preoccupation with a passion of his own. But how real is it? What happens when dormant love awakes? As secrets are revealed and the love story builds to its terse dénouement, it is far from obvious what choices will emerge. 'Unprecedented… There will be few finer books published this year' Independent on Sunday 'Gripping' Sunday Times 'A subtly engrossing novel… admirable higher literacy' 'A wise and tautly written novel' Literacy Review 'This thoughtful book reveals much about the strength of attachments…' 'De Falbe is a clever writer, who knows how to keep the outcome uncertain.'
