WHEN THE SEA BELONGED TO US

In one moment, it was gone. Tess Harding had thought she had it all: a career she loved designing beautiful shoes, a stylish Manhattan apartment shared with her beloved husband Adam and her son Robbie. Not quite paradise, of course: the new collection was proving difficult, the collapse of Adam's job put a strain on the household; but Robbie's hearing implants meant he could play in the school orchestra at the Christmas concert. A random, gangland shooting rips everything apart.

Traumatised by the death of her husband, Tess leaves New York with Robbie to find peace and recover her strength. Robbie's deafness has made him a solitary child; now each of them is withdrawn into grief. The secrets Tess has uncovered leave her frozen and unable to help her son. Winter in Montauk promised refuge; but the landscape only adds to their isolation. Uncle Ike does his best, but his hotel is cold and tired and he feels helpless in the face of such sadness.

Then a stranger arrives, a British sailor who studies the rarest whale in the world; he brings with him another story of communication and isolation. Together they go on an emotional and spiritual journey searching for answers. Kip is an enigma; will helping him assist their recovery?

Set on the beautiful coastline at the tip of Long Island, MONTAUK is Barbara Zitwer's second novel. Her first, The JM Barrie Ladies' Swimming Society, has already sold in ten territories and film rights have been bought by Ealing Studios.

Barbara Jane Zitwer is an international literary agent. Prior to working in publishing, she produced films including Vampire's Kiss. She lives in New York City with her husband and their two dogs.

ALS DAS MEER UNS GEHoeRTE
Deutsch von Yasemin Dinçer
[HC Ruetten & Loening 03/17; TB atb 03/19]