'A wonderfully conceived and remarkably assured first novel, rich in emotion and with a truly compelling narrative drive. A brilliant success' WILLIAM BOYD 'A powerful story, beautifully told. The writing is masterfully smooth and sure-footed, in complete command of its subject. The final chapter is extraordinary in its restraint and fearless simplicity. Such a fascinating and satisfying read' M.L. STEDMAN 'Far-reaching, but also intimate and intensely personal in the loves, secrets, betrayals, and losses it examines. a quietly devastating story about lost time and lost futures that will stay with me' FLORENCE KNAPP 'An exceptional storyteller, with the moral precision of Pat Barker and the skilful restraint of Irène Némirovsky.

Exquisitely written and deeply human, this stunning novel affirms the courage and compassion that survive even in terrible darkness' CHRIS CLEAVE 'This novel floored me. It is a rare thing and close to perfect. It really does have it all: a profound and enthralling story that will grip even the most reluctant of readers, characters that feel as real as my friends or even myself, and the sort of beautiful, careful prose that you'll want to read and reread. I finished this book in a state of awe and grief' ELIZABETH MACNEAL 'Impressive debut' THE NEW YORK TIMES 'Devastating and masterfully told' INDEPENDENT 'A wonderful debut that grips from the first page' THE TIMES 'Left me in pieces. so beautifully written. already a firm favourite for one of my books of the year' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING ' A richly drawn story of family, courage, and the oft forgotten role of female operatives in history' STANDARD 'Far more realistic than many spy novels. takes in betrayal, duplicity, cover-ups and the effects of grief' SPECTATOR 'Moving and luminous, this is an exceptional debut' RED MAGAZINE 'Remarkably accomplished [and] propulsively written' i PAPER 'It's the emotional intensity - where love battles against tragedy and wrongdoing - that makes this so special' DAILY MAIL.