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A gripping page-turner set in occupied France from international multi-million copy seller Joanne Harris. With the sensuous writing we come to expect from her, this book has a darker core. Perfect for fans of Victoria Hislop, Fiona Valpy, Maggie O’Farrell and Rachel Joyce, this fascinating and vivid journey through human cruelty and kindness is a gripping and compelling read.

‘Her strongest writing yet: as tangy and sometimes bitter as Chocolat was smooth’ — Independent
‘Harris indulges her love of rich and mouthwatering descriptive passages, appealing to the senses… Thoroughly enjoyable’ — Observer
‘Outstanding…beautifully written’ — Daily Mail
‘Very thought provoking. I read the book in two days and am still thinking about it a few days down the line’ — ***** Reader review
‘Absolutely gripping from the very first page’ — ***** Reader review
‘Joanne Harris at her very best!’– ***** Reader review
‘Superb’ — ***** Reader review
‘I just couldn’t put this one down’– ***** Reader review 2

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THE PAST WILL ALWAYS CATCH UP WITH YOU…

Beyond the main street of Les Laveuses runs the Loire: smooth and brown as a sunning snake – but hiding a deadly undertow beneath its moving surface. This is where Framboise, a secretive widow, plies her culinary trade at the crperie – and lets her memory play strange games.

As her nephew attempts to exploit the growing success of the country recipes Framboise has inherited from her mother – a woman remembered with contempt by the villagers – memories of a disturbed childhood during the German Occupation flood back, and expose a past full of betrayal, blackmail and lies…