They lumbered in single file alongside the stone wall that bordered the vast estate until the woman reached a spot which looked familiar; she had recognised an ancient oak over the bristling glass-topped wall.Fleeing a violent marriage, Olivia returns to her childhood home with her two young children and a broken arm. The house is imposing, surrounded by high walls and yew trees clipped into fantastical shapes, and her mother’s rules create an atmosphere of brittle control. By coincidence, another couple are expected at the house at the same time: Olivia’s brother Marcus and his wife Sophie are coming back from the hospital with their newborn. But Marcus and Sophie bring a tragic secret with them along with their newborn, and this secret will push the whole family towards breaking point . ‘I loved it . A modern gothic classic.’ Sarah Hall, author of The Electric Michaelangelo ‘Compulsively readable.

’ Guardian‘An extraordinary book.’ Literary Review‘Leigh writes with the confidence of a Kafka.’ The Times.