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 also bring along with them a tragic secret, a secret that will push the whole family towards breaking point...

'Julia Leigh is one of the greatest living writers.' Simon Schama, Guardian Books of the Year

'I loved it . . . A modern gothic classic.' Sarah Hall