The intoxicating new novel from the number one bestselling author ofThe Outcast

London 1972. Luke is dazzled by the city. It seems a world away from the provincial town he has fled along with his own troubled past, and his new life is unrecognisable one of friendships forged in pubs, candlelit power cuts, and smoky late-night parties.

When Nina, a fragile and damaged actress, strays into his path, Luke is immediately drawn to her and the delicate balance of his new life is threatened. Unable to stay away from her, Luke is torn between loyalty, desire and his own painful past, until everything he values, even the promise of the future, is in danger

Longlisted for the IMPAC Prize

Sadie Jones is a novelist and screenwriter who was born and brought up in London. Her first novel,The Outcast('Riveting', Lionel Shriver; 'Devastatingly good', Daily Mail) was the winner of the Costa First Novel Award. It was also shortlisted for the Orange Prize and was a Richard and Judy Summer Reads Number One bestseller. Sadie adaptedThe Outcastfor BBC Television in 2014. Her second novel,Small Wars,('Outstanding', The Times; 'One of the best books about the English at war ever', Joel Morris), was published in 2009, and longlisted for the Orange Prize. Her third, in 2010, wasThe Uninvited Guests. 2009('...a shimmering comedy of manners and disturbing commentary on class... a brilliant novel.' Ann Patchett, author ofState of Wonder.Delightful, eerie novel ... puts one in mind of Hilary MantelsBeyond Black... The Daily Telegraph.) Her most recent novel, published May 2014, isFallout, ('Intoxicating and immersive.' The Sunday Times; 'Intense.. unflinching', The New York Times), is now out in paperback. Sadie is married to the architect, Tim Boyd, and they live in West London with their two children.