Having felt enthralled by this author's first two gothic tales (The Loney and Devils Day) I felt excited when I discovered that he'd written a third. Having now read the opening thirty pages, I know absolutely that I'll be equally captivated by his trademark eerily atmospheric and psychologically credible story-telling in this sad, moving account of the different ways in which people deal with devastating loss. As I'm very familiar with the area in which he sets his books, the impressive way in which he so evocatively captures a sense of time and place is another reason why I love his writing ... I really, really hope I'm fortunate enough to win a copy!