'ANDREW MILLER'S WRITING IS A SOURCE OF WONDER AND DELIGHT' Hilary Mantel 'ONE OF OUR MOST SKILFUL CHRONICLERS OF THE HUMAN HEART AND MIND' Sunday Times Winner of the Highland Book Prize, shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize and a book of the year for the Guardian, the New Statesman, the Spectator and BBC History Magazine 'Excellent' Observer 'Gripping' Daily Mail 'Immersive' The Times A traumatised soldier in search of peace, a nail-biting hunt to the death - the rapturously acclaimed eighth novel from the author of Pure When Captain John Lacroix returns to England after fighting Napoleon's forces in Spain, he is not the man he was. A survivor of the British arm's infamous retreat to Corunna, he carries with him a shameful secret, one he will travel to the outer reaches of Scotland to forget. Lacroix's journey to the Hebrides leads to encounters with thieves and free thinkers, to unexpected friendships, even love. But as the short northern summer reaches its zenith, the shadow of the enemy is creeping closer - unbeknownst to Lacroix, a vicious English corporal and a Spanish officer are on his trail. Freedom, for John Lacroix, will come at a high price. PRAISE FOR ANDREW MILLER 'Unique, visionary, a master at unmasking humanity' Sarah Hall 'A writer of very rare and outstanding gifts' Independent on Sunday 'A highly intelligent writer, both exciting and contemplative' The Times 'A wonderful storyteller' Spectator.