When a city-dwelling woman moves to the countryside, she finds herself the target of a neighbor's malicious witchcraft and a mysterious, rapidly growing pregnancy. Liffey and Richard relocate from London to a rural cottage, but their marriage quickly fractures under the pressure of isolation and mismatched expectations. As Richard returns to the city, Liffey is left vulnerable to the machinations of Mabs, a neighbor who believes the child Liffey carries belongs to her. The narrative employs a sharp, ironic tone to examine the collision between modern domesticity and primal, supernatural forces.

This novel is widely recognized for its biting wit and its unconventional approach to the themes of motherhood and rural life. Critics often highlight Weldon's ability to blend the mundane details of domestic conflict with elements of the occult to create a disquieting atmosphere. The narrative is frequently cited for its cynical yet observant look at how individuals manipulate one another under the guise of neighborly concern. Readers often note that the book remains a distinct example of the author's signature style, which balances sharp social critique with a sense of the uncanny. The work continues to be studied for its unique personification of the unborn child as a central, driving force in the plot.