The Kemp family is just your typical dysfunctional family with their own set of personal difficulties, and a motley collection of interests. They rent a fortified farmhouse in the French countryside and decide to spend the summer there. This is so Giles can dabble with his watercolors; Rob can recuperate from his mental breakdown; Step can indulge her passion for history - particularly for the Cathars - and the children can roam free.

Everything is going well for their little family holiday - or so they think - until a near fatal accident stretches already fraying family relationships to the near breaking point. Meeting hostile villagers and experiencing several inexplicable incidents just adds to the Kemps' rapidly declining enjoyment of their lovely holiday. Having unknowingly triggered a series of events by their very arrival, with secrets held by the farmhouse playing a part, the Kemps walk into a dangerous situation that leads to death, devastation and terror...

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book - the plot was fast-paced and engaging, the writing was beautiful, and I was intrigued by the mystery so much, that I needed to know who was involved, and why. I give this book an A! and will certainly be keeping an eye open for more books by this author to read. I must say that I have never read any books by this particular author before. Domini Taylor is actually one of seven different pseudonyms used by a prolific British novelist known as Roger Erskine Longrigg, who passed away in February of 2000. ( )