Author(s): Hilary Mantel

Novel

'Savage and funny black humour at its best' Time Out

Muriel Axon is about to re-enter the lives of Colin Sidney, hapless husband, father and schoolmaster, and Isabel Field, failed social worker and practising neurotic.

It is ten years since her last tangle with them, but for Muriel this is not time enough. There are still scores to be settled, truths to be faced and rather a lot of vengeance to be wreaked.

Review: 'The macabre and wonderfully funny plot has as many twists and turns as a well-made thriller' Standard 'Filled with fiendish glee!!Lie back and laugh yourself silly: this is the best send-up for a long, long time.' New Statesman 'Hilary Mantel's wit is wonderful and startlingly nasty' Sunday Times 'The farce is edged with constant acuteness about our current social mess and the pleas for charity to begin at home never miss the bull' Observer

Author Biography: Hilary Mantel was born in Derbyshire. She was educated at a convent and later studied law. After ten years abroad in Africa and the Middle East, she returned to Britain in 1985 to make a career as a writer