What do you say to a man whose life you destroyed?

It is winter in London. Eliza Cummings, a ceramics restorer at the V&A Museum, is leaving work when she receives an unexpected phone call. Standing in the haze of the Christmas lights she hears a voice which draws her back twenty-five years – to the tragic death of her best friend.

But why does Rose’s father want her to visit him? Why now? And why is he killing her with kindness when they both know that he blames her for what happened to his daughter?

Grief and guilt cast terrible shadows, but as this beautifully wrought story unfolds and the scene shifts from London to the fairy tale landscape of the Swedish countryside – and back in time to Eliza’s school days – we learn that generosity, humour and friendship can smooth over and restore even the most broken lives, and that some secrets just can’t be kept hidden…

Praise for Drowning Rose:

‘This wonderful Swedish novelist weaves tales of intellectual and emotional subtlety’ – Daily Mail

‘No one writes about life quite like Marika Cobbold; no one combines light and dark, humorous and profound, joyous and sorrowful quite so expertly’ – Guardian Readers’ Books of the Year

‘Lit up by offbeat wit and charm… A novel about growing up with remorse and guilt, this very readable psychodrama flirts with the more gothic expressions of loss’ – Independent

‘Beautifully written’ – Red *****

‘Cobbold’s touch is feather-light, yet there is shade as well as joyously quirky sprightliness.  I can’t recommend it enough’ – The Lady *****