From the first moment she saw the house on the moors
north of Hexham, Conie Stapleton knew she could live
there, despite its isolation, despite its lack of basic
facilities, and despite her fear of loneliness. Her
marriage, on the brink of disintegration, she had
already decided to sell the large flat she and her
husband Jim shared and she saw the move as a means of
initiating the separation she knew was necessary; and
now that their son Peter would soon be off to
university, there was, she decided, no reason to delay
the inevitable. Even if the winters at Shekinah, as the
house was called, were as severe as her family had
warned, she told herself she could always buy a flat in
nearby Hexham. To buy the house, Connie was told that
she must negotiate with the nearby O’Connors, one of
whom, Vincent appeared to be their spokesman. However,
she was somewhat surprised by his abruptness and by his
insistence that the deal be closed forthwith; and
further taken aback when he asked her if she would be
able to sign the papers on the following day.
Afterwards, when the house was hers and she had moved
in, Connie was to discover that mystery was a way of
life with Vincent O’Connor. Despite this, however, he
was to have an increasing influence on her life as she
settled into the new routine of days and nights at
Shekinah. But then, as a result of circumstances over
which she had no control, the shocking truth about the
man with whom she had shared a life for many years came
to light... Set in the 1970s, The Solace of Sin is the
story of a strong and independent woman whose life is
transformed by new surroundings and new acquaintances.
It is a richly satisfying novel, as powerful as any that
Britain’s premier author has written in her long and
distinguished career. |
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