It's 1920s England, and the coastal town of Gravely is finally enjoying a fragile peace after the Great War. John Lowell, a naturalist who writes articles on the flora and fauna of the shoreline, and his wife Harriet lead a simple life, basking in their love for each other and enjoying the company of John's visiting old school friend, David. But when an American whaler arrives in town with his beautiful red-haired daughters, boasting of his plans to build a pier and pleasure-grounds a mile out to sea, unexpected tensions and temptations arise. As secrets multiply, Harriet, John and David must each ask themselves, what price is to be paid for pleasure? --

Richard Smyth is a writer and critic. His work has appeared in The Guardian, The New Statesman and The Times Literary Supplement, and he is the author of five books of nonfiction. In between writing books he compiles crosswords and writes questions for television quizzes. He lives in Bradford, West Yorkshire, with his family.