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 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 crêperie - 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...