Excerpt from Quiet Neighbors by Catriona McPherson, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

"What flat number?"she said.

"Hm?" said the man, then he smiled. "No, no, you misunderstand. Dear me, no. Not a celebration of the Windrush by the local authority. No, I'm sorry to say it's rather earlier and much more unseemly."

"What?" She was swaying with exhaustion and couldn't follow the patter and waft of his voice.

"Never mind," he said. "Jamaica House. On the left. I'll see you once you've rested, and we shall talk then." He slipped the copy of O. Douglas into her bag. "In case you have trouble dropping off," he said. Then he held out his hand. "Lowland Glen."

Jude blinked, took his hand, and shook it. It was dry and warm and she didn't want to let it go.

"My mother's maiden name was Lowland," he said. "But, still, schooldays were a trial. These days, thankfully, people call me Lowell. You see? There's always a solution."

She tried to smile again but failed this time. "I'm Jemimah, for my gran," she said. She choked on the second name, still not sure what to say.

"Oh, dear!"

"But I get Jude."

"You see? Jude! he cried. "Nothing is ever as bad as it seems."

She nodded and turned away before he could see the shadow pass over.

From Quiet Neighbors by Catriona McPherson. © 2016 by Catriona McPherson. Used by permission from Midnight Ink, www.MidnightInkBooks.com.