Jane Bailey

A small girl runs into a wood. Two years later she is found curled up on the armchair in the house belonging to Gracie, a childless spinster. In the Cotswold village she is known as Joy. Grown up she becomes romantically involved with a fighter pilot and the mystery of her past slowly unravels.

1966. Nine-year-old Stephanie has an emotionally absent mum, a limp, and a manipulative friend who walks all over her. But everything changes when Stephanie strikes up a relationship with Mr Man, who always seems pleased to see her. Finally, it seems she has a genuine friend.

When Stephanie's friend goes missing in the woods, no one in the neighbourhood appears to know what has happened to her, but someone is lying...

1977. Stephanie has spent her life trying to bury the events of that terrible summer. When a man starts following her on the train home from London, she suspects the dark truth of what happened may have finally caught up with her.

During World War II Kitty is sent from London to live in a Gloucestershire village. Old fashioned and cautious, Kitty soon realises she has been placed with a dysfunctional family.