Ghost children (Penguin Books)

Sue Townsend, one of Britain's most-loved writers and the creator of the much-loved "Adrian Mole" series, tells a compassionate and gritty story of love and loss in "Ghost Children".

"Gripping and disturbing. Utterly absorbing" ("Independent"). Seventeen years ago Angela Carr aborted an unwanted child. The child's father, Christopher Moore, was devastated by the loss and he retreated from the world.

Unable to accept what had happened between them both went their separate ways. However, when Christopher makes a horrifying discovery whilst out walking his dog on the heath he finds that he is compelled to confront Angela about the past.

As they start seeing each another again can they avoid the mistakes of the past? And will their future together be eclipsed żeby those mistakes of yesterday? A compelling fable of our times, "Ghost Children" is a compassionate and gritty examination of love and loss from one of Britain's most-loved writers, Sue Townsend.

"Bleak, tender and deeply affecting. Seldom have I rooted so hard for a set of fictional individuals" ("Mail on Sunday). "Leaves one gasping for more" ("Daily Telegraph"). "Engrossing, memorable and moving" ("Guardian")."Startling and raw" ("Observer").

Sue Townsend is Britain's favourite comic author. Her hugely successful novels include eight Adrian Mole books, "The Public Confessions of a Middle-Aged Woman (Aged 55 )", "Number Ten", "The Queen and I", "Queen Camilla" and "The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year", all of which are highly acclaimed bestsellers.

She has also written numerous well-received plays. She lives in Leicester, where she was born and grew up.