The Locked Away Life
A lonely soul is on the verge of giving up.
Esther and Bruno have nothing in common, except that they are both in hiding, and their secrets are stopping them from truly living. Esther must come to terms with her past, and Bruno needs to figure out his future…
Can the kindness of a young stranger save her?
A new heartwarming page turner from the bestselling author of THE SHAPE OF US.
Introduction
Esther has shut away herself in her vine-covered manor house on the top of a hill for as long as she can remember. Everyone in the village whispers about the scandal that broke her heart. She has cut herself off from the world – until now. Now, she needs help uncovering the mystery that has plagued her for decades…
On a sunny spring day, eighteen-year-old Bruno is in the local library when he spots an advert. The old lady on the hill is looking for internet lessons, and Bruno sees his chance. Forever the outsider, he can’t wait to escape the sleepy village – the paid position could be his ticket out of there…
Everyone has secrets… But are they saving or destroying you?
“And how do you know if you’re asking the right questions?” she asked.
“You get the right answers,” he replied quickly.
“Exactly,” the woman’s eyes twinkled with satisfaction.
Excerpt
“One final question, my dear heart – you are humouring me so. Tell me, do you think I will be able to learn about your Inter-Net? Is it possible? I know we’ve only just met, but first impressions. Am I a lost cause?”
“I don’t think so,” Bruno stuttered. “You like asking questions, and that’s what it’s really good for.”
“And how do you know if you’re asking the right questions?” she asked.
“You get the right answers,” he replied quickly.
“Exactly,” the woman’s eyes twinkled with satisfaction.
Author’s note
The Locked Away Life was written mostly during lockdowns, and is dedicated to my husband, for putting up with me through it all.
For a long time, I’ve wanted to write a story about a teenager helping an older person with the internet, and the secret that gets uncovered when they access an old, abandoned email. Years ago, I imagined it as a two-hander play, but I’m glad I was able to portray it now using the larger narrative scope of a novel.
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