'An adventure story written in Benson's distinctive, flourish-filled style and suffused with his deep and abiding love of the West Country.' The Daily Mail 'a coming of age novel that turns the plot of a thriller into a lyrical celebration of the mysterious and enchanting power of the natural world' - TLS 'At a time of growing urbanism and reductive social interaction, this delightful novel extols the simple virtues of landscape and love, a sentiment that is as important now as it was when Benson first became a storyteller. Perhaps even more so.' Independent on Sunday 'One of the most distinctive voices in modern British fiction' Evening Standard 'A sharp stylist' Sunday Telegraph

Born in 1956, Peter Benson was educated in Ramsgate, Canterbury and Exeter. His first novel, The Levels, won the Guardian Fiction Prize. This was followed by A Lesser Dependency, winner of the Encore award, The Other Occupant, which was awarded the Somerset Maugham Award, and three more novels: Odo's Hanging, Riptide and A Private Moon. He has also published short stories, screenplays and poetry, and his work has been adapted for TV and radio and translated into many languages. He lives in Exeter with his wife.