The long-lost novella by beloved author Mary Stewart, accompanied by the recently rediscovered short story 'The Lost One' - perfect for fans of Daphne du Maurier, Santa Montefiore and Anya Seton.

Yes, the wind blew still. On the wall of the goat-pen near the cliff 's edge she could see the bougainvillaea tossing, and above the roof the palm-leaves shuffled and clicked like playing cards

Mary Stewart's long-lost novella, now back in print for the first time in 40 years.

1879. Lanzarote. A wealthy young woman elopes with an impoverished fisherman, leaving her family distraught.

1968. Perdita West, secretary to a famous author, visits Lanzarote on a research trip and begins to fall in love with the unusual, beautiful little island. When, while snorkelling, a landslide traps Perdita in an underwater cave, her efforts to save herself will reveal what happened to the ill-fated couple who fell in love at this very spot almost a century ago . . .


'A comfortable chair and a Mary Stewart: total heaven. I'd rather read her than most other authors.'
Harriet Evans

'She set the bench mark for pace, suspense and romance - with a great dollop of escapism as the icing.'
Elizabeth Buchan

The sweeping long-lost novella, now available in paperback for the first time in 40 years, alongside recently rediscovered short story 'The Lost One', from the original queen of romantic suspense

'Total heaven' Harriet Evans

1879. Lanzarote. A wealthy young woman elopes with an impoverished fisherman, leaving her family distraught.

1968. Perdita West, secretary to a famous author, visits Lanzarote on a research trip and begins to fall in love with the unusual, beautiful little island. When, while snorkelling, a landslide traps Perdita in an underwater cave, her efforts to save herself will reveal what happened to the ill-fated couple who fell in love at this very spot almost a century ago . . .

Also includes the recently rediscovered short story 'The Lost One', first published in Woman's Journal in 1960, and set against the backdrop of unfenced country and dark winding valleys at night.

Praise for Mary Stewart:

'Stylish' Guardian

'Wonderful' Scotsman

'Mary Stewart is magic' New York Times

'[She] sprinkled intelligence around like stardust' Herald

'One of the great British storytellers of the 20th century' Independent

'She set the benchmark for pace, suspense and romance - with a great dollop of escapism as the icing' Elizabeth Buchan