The Solace of Sin

From the first moment she saw the house on the moors north of Hexham, Constance Stapleton knew she could live there, despite its isolation, its lack of basic facilities and despite her fear of loneliness. With her marriage on the brink of disintegration, she had already decided to sell the large flat she and her husband Jim shared and she saw the move as a means of initiating the separation she knew was necessary. Their son, Peter, would soon be off to university and there was, she decided, no reason to delay the inevitable. Even if the winters at Shekinah, as the house was called, were as severe as her family had warned, she told herself she could always buy a flat in nearby Hexham.

To buy the house, Connie was told that she must negotiate with the nearby O’Connors, one of whom, Vincent, appeared to be their spokesman. However, she was somewhat surprised by his abruptness and by his insistence that the deal be closed forthwith; and further taken aback when he asked her if she would be able to sign the papers on the following day.

Afterwards, when the house was hers and she had settled in, Connie was to discover that mystery was a way of life with Vincent O’Connor. Even so, she was beginning to rely on him more and more as she settled into the new routine of days and nights at Shekinah. But then, out of the blue, revelations about the man with whom she had shared a life for many years came to light and put her new life at Shekinah under threat…

Set in the 1970s, The Solace of Sin is the story of a strong and independent woman whose life is transformed by new surroundings and new acquaintances. It is a compelling and richly satisfying novel.