Newcastle, 1953. Two new mothers make a pact that will resonate for generations to come. Together Greta and Sylvia decide to flee their old lives, and abandon their newborn babies. Eventually, though, teenager Sylvia is drawn back to her estranged family to her daughter and the boy she still loves. But then her baby vanishes, and a whole cast of characters, including Greta, comes under suspicion. The Great North Road is an epic literary voyage through the storied landscapes of northern England, through tragedy and comedy, to the darker reaches of human behaviour. Compassionate and unfailingly dramatic, it is a searing and addictive debut novel. A gothic, surreal melodrama . . . perceptive and affectionate Ann Cleeves An absolute treat to read. I havent been so captivated by a writers voice since I read Kate Atkinsons Behind the Scenes at the Museum. Annabel Dors going straight onto my list of favourite authors Kate Long, author of The Bad Mothers Handbook