Prologue     Whites Chambers has occupied the narrow, three-storey Victorian building on the corner of St John Street in Manchester for a hundred and thirty years.  The busy chambers reverberate with activity in the afternoons. Barristers return from court triumphant that they have done their best for their client, whether or not that is, in fact, the case. Any mistakes which may have been made are quickly forgotten. Nobody has time to dwell on past cases and anything that m

Chapter One - Old Friends   June 2022 - Monday     The producer's words in Gwen’s ears signalled that the end of the show was approaching. She fixed a professional smile on her face and faced the camera, like she did every morning. ‘Camera two for final countdown, five, four, three, two, one.’ ‘This is Gwen Morris for Morning News Live from the BBC. Thank you for choosing to watch us, and I’ll see you tomorrow, bright and early at six. Goodbye.’ ‘That’s a wrap,’ said Eric, th

PART ONE Chapter One September   The silence is the strangest thing. Charlotte closes the door of the cottage behind her, puts her suitcase on the floor, and listens. She can hear absolutely nothing. The thick stone walls and heavy wooden door drown out what little noise there is from the singing birds and bleating sheep outside. There is no traffic noise, no chattering neighbours - a bonus, as she is definitely not in the mood for small talk over the garden fence with someon

Chapter One September 1908 - Violet     I am standing in front of the mistress in the drawing room, with a racing heart and sweaty palms, while she sips her tea. I can sense that within the next few minutes, I am going to be dismissed, sent away from Compton Hall in disgrace. ‘Sit down, Violet,’ she says. I perch on the edge of the opposite sofa, thankful for the barrier of the low table between us. I put my hands underneath my thighs for a moment, but withdraw them quickly

(This is the sequel to Just Breathe, so only read on if you have read that, otherwise it will spoil the story) It is the first day of Linda’s long-awaited early retirement. She stands in her kitchen, leaning against the countertop with a mug of hot tea in her hands, watching the rain pounding against the window and bouncing off the windowsill. The sparrows, forsaking their premium organic wild bird seed that has been scattered on the bird table in the back garden, are taking

Thursday, 7 th  October 1976     Jack     Jack Chadwick has been in the police station interview room for more than an hour. He watches...