Carmen and Tom live a privileged, comfortable life in London with regular visits to a second home on the Norfolk coast where they are joined by Tom's three children who live with their mother nearby.

Carmen is coping well with being a stepmother, though also has to contend with the spectre of Tom's lover who had died in a tragic drowning accident in the sea here. The beautiful Zena was the reason Tom left his wife and family, before meeting Carmen. 

Overhearing gossip in the village on a visit to their Norfolk home, Carmen begins to question the limited information Tom has given her about his love affair, and the accident.

Did Zena and Tom have such an idyllic love affair, after all? How did Zena die? Could she have been killed? Is Tom to be trusted?

This was completely gripping. I raced through it, intrigued by Carmen's discoveries and feeling her distress, confusion and fear that the man she had married was continuing to deceive her. It was convincing, perfectly pitched and just brilliant. Not entirely satisfied with the ending, but possibly just because it was disappointing the book had come to an end!