105,000 words

Book 3 of the trilogy, but fine as a stand-alone coming of age drama. A childhood rivalry for psychological space culminates in a climax of adolescent outrage in the austerity of post-war Britain.

July 1945 Bill's evacuation has ended but the rivalry between him and his cousin, the devious Kenneth, has not. Reluctantly, he returns to Wandsworth, heart-rending miles from his loving foster placement. Worse, Kenneth must share Bill's home and his father. Adolescent tensions simmer as he continues his invasion of Bill's personal world while charming everyone in it. Bill struggles to protect what he values but cannot keep his own beliefs, his friendships or even his secret icon from Kenneth's reach. When Kenneth encroaches too far into Bill's psychological territory the situation explodes. There's a terrible incident. Everyone suffers life-changing effects. A dreadful price must be paid by all, but for Bill, how long the suspense of retribution and how ingenious its form?