Lies and Loyalties

Lies and Loyalties

by RachelBillington (Author)

Synopsis

One cool March morning in London, MP Leo Barr is told that his brother, Charlie, is dead. He has hanged himself from a chestnut tree in the grounds of a mental hospital. His family reacts in different ways. Charlie's mother, Imogen, sees no point in pretending that life is still worth living - he was always her favourite. Leo and his lawyer brother Roland fight, as they always have over Charlie. The fourth brother Ron, a Catholic priest, must break the news to Charlie's wife, presently in HMP Holloway. In the days following Charlie's death the conflict builds among members of this diverse and complex family. Who really loves whom? What are the motives behind Roland's fixed antagonism towards Charlie? Is Leo right to put his career on the line? Above and between them all is the larger-than-life figure of Charlie. He follows no rules, not even about dying, and it becomes clear that his tragedy is only part of a web of mystery and deceit that connects them all. As well as being a powerful human drama, LIES & LOYALTIES deals with gritty contemporary issues in today's Britain. It moves from parliament to prison, from church to mental hospital and from those who conduct the law to the outcasts of society. But at the heart of the novel is one family - divided by rivalry and frustrated love and forced, at last, to learn the truth about themselves.

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 352
Publisher: Orion
Published: 03 Apr 2008

ISBN 10: 0752868543
ISBN 13: 9780752868547
Book Overview: For years, Rachel Billington has been writing fiction with warmth, substance and memorable characters for a literate female readership Wonderful reviews for Rachel: 'I beg you to read it... the female characters are so superbly drawn, so real, that you are reminded of the skill of the female novelists of the 19th century' DAILY TELEGRAPH 'This novel is a reflection of the characters' lives - vivid, dramatic and sometimes chaotic, with the emotional volume turned up to full blast... a narrative of striking exuberance and generosity' THE TIMES Rachel Billington is a name. Former president of English PEN, she is well connected and popular with the media An author who brings style and class to the Orion list

Media Reviews
'The quick-paced , unadorned writing almost makes it possible to miss the sharp connections being drawn between the strait-laced and the straight-jacketed in contemporary Britain.' DAILY TELEGRAPH '[A] challenging and exciting novel... a grown-up story seasoned with politics, religion and the terrors of breakdown.' SUNDAY TIMES '[A] brilliantly murky novel... Rachel Billington has created an utterly gripping page-turner, rich in sub plots.' SPECTATOR 'Heartache, soul searching and finger pointing swirl around this complex tale of a dysfunctional, yet powerful family' DAILY MIRROR
Author Bio
Rachel Billington has published many novels. She has been President of PEN, and is co-editor of INSIDE TIME, the national newspaper for prisoners. She is married to the director Kevin Billington.