It is in 1950s' Brighton that Marion first catches sight of Tom. He teaches her to swim in the shadow of the pier and Marion is smitten - determined her love will be enough for them both.

A few years later in Brighton Museum Patrick meets Tom. Patrick is besotted with Tom and opens his eyes to a glamorous, sophisticated new world.

Tom is their policeman, and in this age it is safer for him to marry Marion. The two lovers must share him, until one of them breaks and three lives are destroyed.

Bethan Roberts was born in Oxford and grew up in nearby Abingdon. Her first novelThe Poolswas published in 2007 and won a Jerwood/Arvon Young Writers' Award. Her second novelThe Good Plain Cook, published in 2008, was serialized on BBC Radio 4's Book at Bedtime and was chosen as one ofTime Out's books of the year. She also writes short stories (in 2006 she was awarded the Olive Cook short story prize by the Society of Authors) and has had a play broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Bethan has worked as a television documentary researcher, writer and assistant producer, and has taught Creative Writing at Chichester University and Goldsmiths College, London. She lives in Brighton with her family.

Visit her website at www.bethanrobertswriter.com