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‘Shot through with the tensions of trying to come to terms with the ever-present past that we carry with us, no matter how far we travel’ Elisabeth Gifford, author of The Mischief Makers

‘An atmospheric and affecting novel’ Jane Johnson, author of Secrets of the Bees

‘Paints a vibrant picture of how we misunderstand ourselves and others, and how good intentions can lead us in the wrong direction. Gorgeously immersive and richly detailed, with characters you can root for and despair over all at once’ Grainne Murphy, author of Winter People

Birmingham. Baghdad. Beirut. How far must you go to escape your past?

She left everything behind—even her name. But secrets don’t stay buried.

It’s 1917. Doris lives a comfortable life with her grandparents in suburban Birmingham, told she is alone in the world. But something doesn’t add up. When she discovers her parents—and six siblings—are alive just streets away, everything she believes unravels.

Who is she? And why was she given away?

Desperate for answers, Doris reinvents herself and flees England, chasing a new life in Baghdad, then Beirut. But no matter how far she runs, the past is never far behind.

‘Richly atmospheric and emotionally resonant’ Kevin McManus, author of The Light at Evening

‘It gripped me immediately and refused to let go until I’d devoured every last page’ Awais Khan, author of No Honour