When Wren Irving's numbers come up in the first-ever national lottery draw, she doesn't tell her husband, Rob. Instead, she quietly packs her bags, kisses her six-month-old daughter Phoebe goodbye, and leaves. Two decades later, Rob has moved on and found happiness with their oldest friend, Laura. Phoebe, now a young woman, has never known any other life. But when Rob receives a mysterious letter, the past comes back to haunt them all. With their cosy world thrown into turmoil, Laura sets out to track Wren down and discover the truth about why she walked out all those years ago. Isabel Ashdown is also the author of Hurry Up and Wait (Myriad, 2011) Summer of '76 (Myriad, 2013) and A Quiet Winter (Myriad, 2015).
Industry Reviews
'Isabel Ashdown writes with clarity and grace, using spare, deceptively straightforward prose to tackle complex, sometimes taboo issues.' - Jane Rusbridge 'Isabel Ashdown's storytelling skills are formidable, her human insights highly perceptive.' - Mail on Sunday 'One of the most perceptive and engaging authors writing today.' - NewBooks 'Isabel Ashdown has an uncanny knack of telling a story that leaves you satisfied and still curious, wondering about the characters long after the book has finished. A perfect summer read.' - Brighton and Hove Independent 'A brilliantly told and intriguingly posed narrative about friendship, relationships and family life. Weaving together the perspectives of all of the main players in this novel, Ashdown skilfully builds a perceptive, compelling narrative that explores the past and present of these characters and reveals the secrets and truths of what takes place. Ashdown's novel exemplifies contemporary fiction that explores the dynamics and complexities of family life.' - We Love This Book 'I read the ending through tears... and I'm still thinking about what will happen next. Ashdown lays bare emotions we don't want to acknowledge or own up to feeling.' - Jera's Jamboree 'This profoundly perceptive novel asks the reader not to judge but to listen; to follow the threads of each person's story, their shared history and their love for each other despite their suffering, until they come to a place that can bring them together or tear them apart again. Flight explores the trauma that can emerge from trying to meet other people's expectations of what family life should be, and why someone may choose a different path.' - Pamreader 'An extremely thought-provoking story that explores the darkest corners of motherhood and friendship. This is a book that hooked me in from page one and had me frantically turning the pages as the story unfolded with unexpected twists and discoveries that shocked me to the core... Flight is exquisitely written. Isabel Ashdown is a very accomplished author and has created a complex, yet beautifully woven story of love and relationships that is both heart-breaking and thought-provoking.' - Anne Cater
