Paulyn Marrinan.

Within minutes we are brought into the salon of a luxurious Hotel where we are introduced to a wide range of characters - stylish, sophisticated and intriguing reminiscent of a group from a Poirot mystery. The gloss and characterisation is a lure that leads us into an unfolding mystery - where the story takes an unexpected twist and delves into darker sides of society and the responsibilities for so much borne by women at a certain time in history. There is a scene where the writer reaches high levels of skill in describing a traumatic experience - one that would be familiar to many young women but is never depicted with the breathtaking depth as it has been in this story - a powerful piece of writing.