A gripping psychological thriller set in post-war England, where Isabel's meticulously ordered life shatters when her brother's girlfriend arrives for the summer. Fifteen years of solitude and control unravel in the sweltering heat as dangerous desires surface and long-buried secrets threaten everything. Winner of the Women's Prize 2025 and shortlisted for the Booker Prize, this debut masterpiece explores trauma, repression, and the twisted nature of revenge with the sophistication of Highsmith and the emotional depth of McEwan's Atonement. A thrilling, perfectly plotted novel that will captivate readers seeking intelligent, unsettling literary fiction.