Drawing its inspiration from a love of the Dorset coast and the music of Joni Mitchell, Fireflies is the second book in a trilogy which grows steadily darker as the story unfolds. On the Dorset coast, Marcie has taken over Abi's duties at the cafe as she struggles to balance the responsibilities of teenage motherhood with her college education. Richard has returned to the Mermaid and is slowly coming to terms with his disability. Kingpin Niko Perkowski becomes aware of Michael's burgeoning artistic talent and decides to take a personal interest in the boy. Meanwhile, Edith's mental health has deteriorated to such an extent she has been committed to a psychiatric institution. As her condition worsens Niko is forced to seek help from unusual quarters. Tom and the Lavender sisters embark on separate quests to ease their sense of loss. All discover that the happiness they seek is in fact far closer to home than any of them had imagined. Some of the action moves across the Atlantic. A year on from her mother's death, Abi has accepted a teaching exchange in rural Appalachia, where she suspects two of her pupils are being abused. When the Principal refuses to help, Abi is forced to take matters into her own hands. Ex-chef Didier Rousseau has joined an American Midway, a cross between a circus and a travelling fair. There he meets and falls in love with fellow traveller, Mallory. They decide to put down roots in New Orleans and build a new life post Katrina. Further north, in the desolate Pine Barrens outside New York, the dead body of a young girl is discovered. To the detective in charge of the case it appears to be a motiveless killing."