With the Rector Peter Harris and his family back from Africa, the villagers of Turnham Malpas heave huge sighs of relief- everything is back to normal. But Peter has other ideas. He decides to return to Africa and fulfil his promise of working there for a year. The family he leaves behind is a very troubled one. Caroline's e-mails to Peter hide the fact that the twins, Beth and Alex, are traumatised by their experiences in Africa and hide her own distress that they will not share their feelings with her.

The villagers are also missing Peter's guidance - there are troublesome newcomers Jenny and Andy to contend with. Meanwhile Jimbo's store is lie target of petty theft and violence. Closing it seems to be his only option, one which horrifies the villagers. Beth, who is struggling to lead a normal life again after her upsetting time in Africa, finds that she has
to help restore harmony and stability in the village. But will he make it back before things get out of hand?

Rebccca Shaw's trademark sense of mischievous humour and wonderful insight into village life are present in this exceptional tale which follows the story of life in Turnham Malpas.

Rebecca Shaw qualified as a teacher of deaf children before raising a family. With the departure of the last of her four children she turned to writing.

' Carleton Hobbs Award Winner, Carole Boyd has worked extensively in radio drama and features and is famously known as Lynda Snell in The Archers . In 1998 she won a Spoken Word Award for The Land Girls and British Talkie Award for The God of Small Things . In 2001 she won a Spoken Word Silver Award for Middlemarch.