Ricocheting between dreams and fantasy and cold, harsh reality, this novel highlights the stories of young people lured or snatched from their home to reside in a big house in the English countryside. They are part of a grand design by wealthy businessman, Peter Wilshaw. One of his captives, Aiden, feels he is special to Peter and needs to find out why. Eventually the truth is revealed, which leads to earth-shattering events. A strange tale about lost families, the power of fantasy and the need for love. An intricate patchwork of histories leading to a tense, revelatory finale.

Reviews

This is my third book by Patrick Murray and I have to say this is yet another really enjoyable and enthralling book and as ever well written.
This novel is chiefly concerned with a character called Peter. He seems to be unbelievably wealthy and spends most of his life travelling the world trying to identify and track down people he has seen in Google maps (other map applications are available). Aided by a Columbian with certain "special skills", they seem to have a wonderful life travelling the globe, staying in the best hotels and flying first class from one exotic location to another.

We are then taken to a large house in the English countryside. Inside we first come across a young lad called Aiden, locked and chained in the basement for a reason we find out later. We are then introduced to one of his jailers, a young European woman called Monika, who treats him with kindness and brings him food, drink and even comfort.
The question is who are these people, why are they in prison, are some of them even jailers, what has this to do with the enigmatic Peter? Through a series of vignette chapters we gradually find out more until the big denouement, which is more surprising than you can imagine.
Brilliantly written, with prose that drags you in to learn more this is yet another wonderful and as ever, different novel from the pen of Pat Murray

Adrian (www.goodreads.com)

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