Jane Bailey

A small girl runs into a wood. Two years later she is found curled up on the armchair in the house belonging to Gracie, a childless spinster. In the Cotswold village she is known as Joy. Grown up she becomes romantically involved with a fighter pilot and the mystery of her past slowly unravels.

1966. Nine-year-old Stephanie has an emotionally absent mum, a limp, and a manipulative friend who walks all over her. But everything changes when Stephanie strikes up a relationship with Mr Man, who always seems pleased to see her. Finally, it seems she has a genuine friend.

When Stephanie's friend goes missing in the woods, no one in the neighbourhood appears to know what has happened to her, but someone is lying...

1977. Stephanie has spent her life trying to bury the events of that terrible summer. When a man starts following her on the train home from London, she suspects the dark truth of what happened may have finally caught up with her.

It was meant to be Caitlin's perfect summer, but betrayed by her best friend and her boyfriend, she finds herself hitchhiking home alone, heartbroken, and penniless.

When a smiling family pulls up on the roadside to help her on her way, she's relieved - they seem so friendly, safe. And when they offer her a warm bed in their isolated house for the night, she's grateful not to have to travel back alone in the dark.

One night soon turns into two, and then three. The increasingly spellbinding couple wants her to stay, and why shouldn't she? Their children need a tutor, and the longer she can avoid home, the better.

But then an older member of the household warns her to leave immediately. And when her phone suddenly goes missing, she realises that this perfect family is a perfect lie...

During World War II Kitty is sent from London to live in a Gloucestershire village. Old fashioned and cautious, Kitty soon realises she has been placed with a dysfunctional family.