UK, 1999, 1st edition. 256 pp. A climbing novel that was short-listed for the 1999 Boardman Tasker Award. New Paperback (only edition). A reader writes: This beautifully written book had me totally gripped. First thing I did after finishing it was to email friends to tell them to go out and buy it. I gave six copies away as Christmas presents. The book's about what we don't, or can't, say to each other, and the novel consists of two stories, one within another. It's so cleverly structured, and so surprising. The surface story is about a young doctor who has returned to north Wales to recover from marriage breakdown, and discover his true family (he is adopted), and the inner story is about a Welsh hill farmer who rescues a traumatised mute young woman, takes her to his farm, and attempts to make her his loving wife. The two stories are intimately and excitingly connected - as we slowly discover. Patricia Barrie can really write. Her sense of drama is terrific - she should have been writing magazine instalments in Dicken's day! Each chapter end leaves you desperate for more. But her language is beautiful too. I loved this book in the way I loved Captain Corelli's Mandolin - really engaging with the characters, loving the drama, humour, and tension - but, unlike Mandolin, this book doesn't have a disappointing ending. It's good all the way through. You must just read it, please.
