Elfrida Phipps, a London stage actress, moved to the English village of Dibton in hopes of making a new life for herself. Oscar Blundell gave up his life as a musician in order to marry Gloria, but only views the sacrifice of his career as worthwhile because of their little girl. Carrie, returned from Australia after a failed relationship, agrees to look after her aunt's awkward teenage daughter, Lucy, so that her mother might enjoy a romantic fling in America. Sam Howard, putting his life back together after his wife has left him for another, visits Scotland on business, where he falls in love with the landscape. The strange rippling effects of a tragedy bring these five characters together, on the shortest day of the year, in an estate house near the Scottish fishing town of Creagan, and forever change their lives in this novel of love, loyalty and rebirth. -- Adapted from Amazon.