I was lucky enough to meet Anna Chilvers when she was a writer in residence at West Dean College recently, and hearing her talk about her writing process inspired me to read one of her books – Falling Through Clouds. Having spent time in Devon and Cornwall in the summer for the few years, often taking the train down, I liked the premise of a student meeting someone on the train and making a spur of the moment decision to spend the summer in the south west, rather than being bored with her parents and her older lover.

Kat and Gavin have a slow start to their relationship, and he is clearly hiding something and struggling to cope with a secret. Kat is too sensible to push him, and gets on with braiding the hair of tourist kids to make a living and returning to her tent and Gavin at night. But when he disappears on her she is determined to track him down. This leads them to some blissful summer weeks together in North Cornwall, where they become closer and she starts to help him heal.

But that’s when Gavin disappears again, and then strange thinks start happening to Kat back in London. She discovers Gavin’s awful secret, but are things really as they seem?

This is a gripping read and one I’d recommend.