Charlie Matters' life has always been a fight for survival. Orphaned with no prospects, Charlie steals what he needs, living day-to-day until he can enlist in the battle against the Germans. He miraculously emerges unscathed from the Blitz, but there's no telling when the next bomb will fall, and whether it will be the one to end his life. Molly Wakefield's dreams of a joyful homecoming are all she's had to hold on to after being evacuated to the countryside via 'Operation Pied Piper' five years before. But when she finally returns to the city, Molly faces a London changed beyond recognition, and the devastating news that neither of her parents are there. Charlie and Molly's paths converge when they both seek solace at 'The Book Keep', where they find an unexpected ally and protector in the bookshop's owner, widower Ignatius Oliver. But the trio's newfound peace is jeopardized as past secrets catch up with them: Charlie's illicit activities have not gone unnoticed, an ominous shadow has trailed Molly since her return, and Ignatius is burdened by a secret that contributed to his wife's death. Can they help one another survive this turbulent time? Or will they be ripped apart from the last people they hold dear?

• Format: Paperback / softback
• Publication Date: 08/04/2025
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Country of Origin: United Kingdom
• Pages: 448