Manic-depressive artist Rachel Kelly dies in her attic studio in Penzance. In death, along with her brilliant paintings, her dark past remains, which holds secrets that will take months to unravel. The whole family comes together and each searches for answers, reflecting on the life shaped by the enigmatic Rachel - as a creator, wife and mother - and the ambiguous legacy she leaves them of talent, torment and love. Each chapter begins with notes from an imaginary posthumous exhibition Rachel's works. We don't see any examples of Kelly's work or possessions, but the detailed descriptions with each chapter of the novel have the effect of a retrospective of her art with key episodes in her life. What emerges is the dramatic and complex story of one woman's devotion to art and the relationship between genius and mental illness. Patrick Gale's novel is the story of the woman he called "my worst mother to date." She is a genius, a loving wife and mother, a loyal friend, but she is tormented by bipolar disorder - causing harm to everyone who tries to love and protect her. Age restrictions: 18+