Christina has written ten books detailing life in war-torn communities in Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Syria, particularly as experienced by women and girls. This book is quite different.

When Covid struck, foreign correspondents were just like everyone else in that they had to stay put. So Christina Lamb did something she'd never done before - she wrote about life in Britain.

She had heard how hotels were being used by councils to house homeless people. The government scheme, called 'Everyone In', sought to clear the streets of rough sleepers. It was thought that these people would be more vulnerable to the virus through their underlying health conditions, and more susceptible to spreading it, too. 

So a hotelier in Shrewsbury, with a core team of staff, welcomed in some 30 homeless people, and this is the story of what happened. 

The residents were treated as guests throughout their stay but would leave baths to overflow, set off smoke alarms with the steam from hot showers, and would refuse the home-cooked food served by the staff, preferring pizzas and burgers instead.

It's a powerful read, about community and kindness, addiction and abuse, and how there is no quick fix for complex issues.

It reminds us that we can all make a difference and that we shouldn't judge. We rarely have any notion of what someone may have been through in their life.

But sadly as soon as the pandemic was 'over' and these people were told their time at the hotel had come to an end, they received no further support. And they returned to their earlier lifestyle and life choices.