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A Novel

Few people gave a second thought to Abercerig. The seemingly unremarkable village in the Welsh mining valley looked dreary; endless grey terraced cottages housing dull people with little or no desire to better themselves. But nothing could be further from the truth. A story of true love and family intrigue weaves itself around the lives of two sisters, Grace and Mari, and their families. A scandalous marriage, the suffering and deprivation of the war years, personal triumphs and communal grief contribute to the colourful tapestry that is Abercerig. The dedicated family doctor and the fair-minded police sergeant steer their flock through the ordeals of everyday life while the chapel ladies in their Sunday Best hats with their closely guarded recipes for apple pies, rule over the moral welfare of the villagers. Newcomers are scrutinised before finally being accepted into the watchful community and eyebrows are raised as class barriers are breached. But essentially, this is a story of Sian, a young girl who, from a very early age, sees far beyond the inflexible prejudices of the adults surrounding her and offers a solution that will put an end to many wasted years of misunderstanding.