'A deftly-handled, slow-burning thriller... the author's evocation of time and place is impeccable. Fans of Kate Mosse and Kate Atkinson will find a lot to like here.' Joanne Harris

In a peaceful coastal village, Irina spends her days quietly restoring furniture, hiding from a long-held family secret. When an antique bureau is sent anonymously to her workshop, Irina senses an uneasy history to the object. As she investigates its origins, the mysteries it holds are slowly revealed...

Decades earlier, another young woman also kept secrets. Over the course of one halcyon summer, Abigail fell in love and dreamed of the future. But she could not know that catastrophe loomed, and this event would change the course of many lives for ever...

A deftly-handled, slow-burning thriller across two distinct timelines... the author's evocation of time and place is impeccable. Fans of Kate Mosse and Kate Atkinson will find a lot to like here. -- Joanne Harris, Goodreads
A smart, flawless and unforgettable triumph * Heat Magazine on The Last Night *
A perfect Sunday afternoon read * Red online, on The Last Night *
Captivating and beautifully written * The Sun, Fabulous Mag on The Last Night *
Beautifully written and peppered with real emotion, this is a story that will linger long after reading * Heat on The Silent Hours *
A beautifully written novel that will stay with you long after you finish the last page * Sun on The Silent Hours *
[A] strong debut... This is assured writing and Major is a talent to watch -- Antonia Senior * The Times on The Silent Hours *
A moving and evocative portrait of a little-known wartime tragedy * Sunday Express on The Silent Hours *
A moving debut * Woman & Home on The Silent Hours *

Cesca Major read history at Bristol University. She went on to work in television before becoming a history teacher. In 2005 she was runner-up in the Daily Mail Writing Competition for the best opening paragraph to a novel and had a short story published in the Sentinel Literary Magazine. She has written regularly for the website www.novelicious.com and films writing videos for www.writersandartists.com. She currently works as a housemistress at a boarding school in Berkshire.