Winter, 1932. At Oulney Castle, sisters Cora and Iris Fforde share an unbreakable bond. When their father returns from America with a glamorous new wife, the arrival of this captivating stranger unsettles the peace within the ancient house they call home. And as floodwaters surround the castle and winter tightens its grip, the women’s lives are changed forever.
Nearly a century later, Claudia Fforde returns to Oulney, hoping to rebuild her life after a devastating loss. Instead she finds herself drawn into a mystery buried deep within the walls of the castle – one that began with two sisters during a long-forgotten winter.
As the waters rise once more around Oulney, Claudia discovers that some houses never give up their secrets. But can she break the hold the past still has over her family?