I cannot believe this is a book written by a first time author. The writing took me in all the way. I could feel the cold of the snow almost, the smells. I felt connected to the characters. I was haunted by ghosts of my own guilt. Ted, Ed, Theo, Naomi, Beth even...and dear sweet Bertie. Even Michael was believable in the story. The plot grabs you emotionally wrings you out and leaves you palpitating. This is a mother's horror story, guilt, demise...everything. Jenny's nightmare seemed to keep unfolding. Do we really know the people we live with? Are we in denial about what we see? The conclusion made me scream and throw the book. I did a lot of crying with this book. There was a lot of despair, depression, and darkness. I thought it was superbly told and I will be looking for more work from Jane Shemilt. This is one of those books that will be with you for a while after you finish reading it.