Rosalind Brackenbury Books

"When her old friend Hannah doesn't show up at her house in the south of France, everyone assumes that Claudia, who has known Hannah since their shared years at boarding school, will know where she is, and what has happened. But as Claudia travels from the USA to France to help Hannah's husband and children conduct their search, she is forced to deal with her old jealousy of Hannah, as well as her own relationship in the present with her French lover, Alexandre. As events unfold, Claudia begins to wonder if Hannah and Alexandre may have had an affair and if that has had something to do with Hannah's mysterious disappearance. In this exquisitely written, Ferrante-esque novel the question of whether or not Hannah will come back becomes urgent and bewildering. And if she doesn't come back, what will the lives of her friends and family be without her?"--

The discovery of a woman's bones on a Dorset beach triggers haunting memories for Nessa Halloran, linking her present to her English post-war childhood. As she grapples with the mystery of the bones' identity, Nessa's past resurfaces, intertwining her personal history with the enigma surrounding the remains. The narrative explores themes of memory, identity, and the shadows of the past that shape the present.

Anna Parrish and Ruby Smith have been close friends since childhood, with Anna being the traditionally beautiful, dominant one and Ruby the impulsive, less classically attractive counterpart. Now young women, they plan to meet at an artists' workshop in central France during the transformative period of the late sixties. Their lives are filled with sensual dreams and a yearning for freedom. After briefly visiting friends, Ruby arrives at the workshop only to find Anna missing and the workshops disappointing. Following rumors, she ventures south to the wilds of the Camargue, where she encounters Caleb 'Caley' Hanson, an American poet and Anna's brief lover. Both are searching for Anna, trying to understand her sudden departure. Amidst the heat and rich atmosphere of summer, Ruby and Caley find solace and the potential for a deeper connection. However, Anna's absence raises questions: is there something sinister behind it, or is she simply charting her own path? As Ruby and Caley journey north to uncover the truth, they face unexpected challenges that test their limits. This sensuous, dreamlike narrative, first published in 1971, explores the complexities of friendship and love as they navigate a brave new world, showcasing Brackenbury's mature poetic style.