Following the death of his wife, a grieving history teacher must reconcile with his estranged teenage daughter while uncovering long-buried family secrets. Irving Cruikshank finds himself adrift in the wake of Helen’s passing, struggling to connect with his daughter, Severn, who has retreated into anger and rebellion. When Severn disappears after a shoplifting incident involving a book by one of her mother’s former lovers, Irving is forced to abandon his passive existence. The narrative follows his search for his daughter, which serves as a catalyst for confronting the hidden history of his marriage and the complex woman Helen truly was.

This novel is recognized for its success in the 2004 London Book Fair’s Lit Idol competition, where it emerged as the winner among 1,500 entries. The work is noted for its exploration of the complexities inherent in father-daughter relationships and the lingering impact of loss. Readers and critics often highlight the author's ability to handle themes of grief without resorting to overly sentimental tropes. The narrative structure effectively weaves past and present to reveal the hidden layers of a marriage, providing a satisfying resolution to the central mystery.