When Maria, the fourth child of a widow, is adopted by the old and childless Bonaria Urrai, her life is instantly transformed - she finally has the love and affection she craves. But her new "soul mother" is keeping something hidden from her, a secret life that is intimately bound-up with Sardinia's ancient traditions and customs.

An exceptional English-language debut, and the winner of six Italian literary prizes, Accabadora weaves a narrative of rare grace and subtlety into a sensual tapestry of local nuance, atmosphere and dialect.