by Adele Geras (Author)
When Constance Barrington dies, she leaves behind a wealthy estate and a complex family network. But when the whole family gathers to hear her last will and testament, they are in for a terrible shock. Constance - possessed of a long memory and a spiteful disposition - altered her will shortly before her death. The new provisions are far from fair; some benefit hugely and others hardly at all. Constance's granddaughter, Louise, is bequeathed the copyright for her late grandfather's novels (barely remembered, long-since out of print and valuable only as a reminder of the man she loved). It is a paltry inheritance and one that comes to symbolise the inequity at the heart of the Barrington family. Soon, old family feuds and long-hidden resentments come to the surface, and with them, secrets start to emerge. But it is through Louise's inheritance - those dusty, long-forgotten books - that the most explosive secret of all will come to light, bringing with it a very different future for her and the rest of the family.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 448
Publisher: Orion
Published: 12 Jun 2008
ISBN 10: 0752893319
ISBN 13: 9780752893310
Book Overview: Adele Geras has written a spellbinding novel exploring the conflicts that lie at the heart of a family. Her previous novels have sold over 200,000 copies, and foreign rights have been sold for huge sums in fifteen countries. Adele also receives excellent reviews: 'Adele Geras is one of my favourite writers. A HIDDEN LIFE is among her best' Katie Fforde. 'Secrets and revelations are the order of the day in this gripping novel ... you'll be hooked from the start, and when you've finished it, you'll wish you hadn't' Company. 'The author's warm writing style and her skills with her characters will keep you reading with pleasure. Her first novel, Facing the Light, was a deserved bestseller and this will surely join it' Choice. 'Beautifully written, wonderfully evocative ... A not-to-be-missed treat' Penny Vincenzi. 'Geras assuredly draws the reader into this deeply involving grade A saga, which has a grip that's impossible to shake off' Woman & Home. 'If you like Wesley and Howard, or Binchy and Pilcher even, you will love this book ... this is about as good as popular fiction gets' The Scotsman.