Merlyn Cantelo returns to Leeds to claim the house of a late aunt, an aunt who adopted him after a tormented early childhood. As a clairvoyant, she had predicted violence in his future life and had suggested he live overseas with her distant family in Italy. Now he's back and is about to find out the real truth of his aunt's precognition.
Robert Barnard returns to contemporary Leeds for the memorably downscale story of The Centre, a temporary hostel for homeless young people. Ben Marchant, who opened The Centre after winning the lottery, allows his charges to remain only a fortnight, all except for Alan Coughlan and Katy Bourne, two fellow-students who'd barely heard of each other till they ran away together, and who are now ensconced in The Centre indefinitely. But Alan and Katy's unusual status doesn't bother black copper Charlie Peace as much as the possibility that The Centre may be no refuge from the indolence of the streets.
Perce Spender, a working-class Londoner, is unexpectedly transformed into the twelfth Earl of Ellesmere when a distant relative dies. But he would rather be warming a bar stool in his local pub, and he's taken up residence at Chetton Hall only until arrangements can be made to sell it. Getting rid of the family estate displeases at least one of Perce's greedy offspring, however, and on the morning after a family party the new Earl is found dead.
Peter Proctor is a retired British MP attempting to write his memoirs to stave off boredom. Unfortunately they seem to be creating more problems than he anticipated, and not just of the writers-block variety. Peter keeps getting sidetracked by the death of his friend Timothy Wycliffe, which occurred thirty-odd years before.
Bettina Whitelaw is a grand dame of the English literary scene. Approaching eighty, with a beautiful flat in Holland Park and a comfortable income, her life is not dissimilar to that of her wealthy, elegant neighbours. But her background most certainly is. Brought up in Bundaroo, a small town in the Australian outback, Bettina's childhood was dominated by the relentlessly blazing sun, by the long daily walk to school, and by the simmering animosities of smalltown life. The family house was a simple shack and her parents constantly struggled to make ends meet.
