UNKNOWN

“A real page turner”

“An emotional, beautifully written book.”

A Caribbean bride. A missing husband. A city rebuilding itself — and hiding the truth.

When Essie’s new husband, LeJeune, sails to England to prepare their future, she expects to follow him within months. But only one letter arrives. Then nothing.

Refusing to accept silence as an answer, Essie leaves Dominica and crosses the Atlantic alone. She arrives in post‑war London — a city still scarred by the Blitz, divided by prejudice, and unprepared for the wave of Caribbean arrivals stepping off the Empire Windrush.

In Stepney, she finds the people who knew LeJeune during the war: the loyal friend who served beside him, and the woman from his past who still carries her own secrets. Each reveals a different version of the man Essie married.

As she pieces together his life, Essie uncovers a trail of hidden truths that force her to question not only what happened to her husband — but who he truly was.

A powerful, dual‑timeline novel of identity, resilience, and the hidden stories that shape us.

For fans of Andrea Levy, Louise Hare, and Kristin Hannah.

Begin Essie’s journey today.

Fran Clark is an author of emotive women's fiction, whose stories are deeply rooted in the connection between London and the Caribbean. Born to Dominican parents and raised in West London, her work explores themes of identity, resilience and the strength of women - often inspired by the vibrant storytelling of her mother.Her first novel, Holding Paradise, was published in 2014 and later reimagined as the first in the Island Secrets Series. Fran holds an MA in Creative Writing from Brunel University and lives in the English countryside, where she teaches vocals and leads a local choir.She also writes contemporary fiction under the pen name, Rosa Temple.