Winner of Somerset Maugham Award 2006. Shortlisted for Commonwealth Writers' Prize 2006.

'Stunning... a haunting work of art.' -- Newsweek 20051101 'Chris Cleave has the ability to create moving and beautiful scenes within a terrifying backdrop. I couldn't put it down; it's subversive, thought-provoking and well-written.' -- Observer, Books of the Year 20051101 'Richly sardonic and often disarmingly poignant... How can one fail to be impressed and moved?' -- Guardian 20050720 'Cleave's heroine is by turns funny, sad, flawed, sympathetic, both damaged and indomitable, and triumphantly convincing.' -- Sunday Telegraph 20050901 'Stunning' -- New York Times AND International Herald Tribune AND Bookmarks Magazine 20050801 'This is a compulsive read, sure to stir the dust' -- CITY AM 20050801 'Searing. poignant and compelling. Utterly believable and mesmerizing' -- Newsday 20050801 'Dark, tense and undeniably provocative' -- Metro 20050801 'Hilariously sympathetic and convincing' -- San Francisco Chronicle 20050801 'Mesmerizing' -- Washington Post 20050801

Chris Cleave is married with three children, and lives in Kingston-upon-Thames. He keeps a website at www.chriscleave.com and can be found on twitter.com/chriscleave.