a Downton Abbey-style drama about a grand family down on their luck in the Roaring Twenties. * GOOD HOUSEKEEPING *
Williams has a sharp eye for the contradictions and mysteries of human nature and a vivid turn of phrase . . . she uses her historian's knowledge to brilliant effect' * DAILY MAIL *
Williams draws expertly on mysterious, fawed characters coming of age in a displaced world in this gripping period novel . . . A haunting piece of historical fiction * THE LADY *
TV historian Williams revisits the De Witts, the Anglo-German family introduced in her previous saga The Storms of War. Her insight into the aftermath of the First World War and shattered society shines out of every page, enriching a powerful family saga. * SUNDAY MIRROR *
Gripping from the first page, I absolutely love this novel... It's a must-read. * GRAZIA *
An epic, romantic read set in the roaring '20s. * FABULOUS *
The de Witt family's struggles are a compelling, vibrant and poignant fictional reflection of living history and if the next chapter of their story unfolds with the same emotional power and extraordinary resonance, then we are in for another treat. * LANCASHIRE EVENING POST *
Williams has created a resonant evocation of life in the aftermath of the First World War in which the shadows of the conflict loom large, but also explores the psychological and emotional worlds of the individual. * IRISH EXAMINER *
This novel is rich in sumptuous detail and full of twists and turns. -- Isabelle Broom * HEAT *
Told in two distinct time frames - mid-20th century and Maude's contrasting experiences of the 1890s and early
1900s - and full of colour, detail, tension and adventure, it's a compelling read.
* CHOICE *