Welcome to Spain's sunny Lomaverde, a complex of empty apartments, leaky pools, feral cats and a handful of Brit expats clinging to the dream. Just arrived is Dermot Lynch, here to visit Eamonn, his wayward son. But Eamonn is in a bad way- Laura, his girlfriend, has mysteriously left and neither father nor son knows quite what to say about it.

Luckily, no-nonsense couples Roger and Cheryl, Becca and Ian take charge, plunging Dermot into the bizarre rituals of expat life- goat-hunting trips, paranoid speculations, the daily barbecuing and bickering. Delving deeper into this small community, Dermot and Eamonn draw closer to uncovering the shocking secret at its heart . . .

'A remarkable and original writer . . . tenderness, warmth, thoughtfulness and comic genius.' Fay Weldon, Observer

'Superb storytelling . . . peopled with characters we really care about, with fascinating secrets waiting to be revealed.' Heat

'A story of great charm, a novel of such wisdom.' Sunday Express

'O'Flynn writes with brilliant wit and warmth about people cast adrift.' The Times

'Brilliant . . . so entertaining.' Guardian

'Poignant, funny, wonderful . . . I loved her others but Mr Lynch is my favourite.' Nina Stibbe