Victoria Conway is out walking when she comes across a home for elderly ladies and decides to fill her empty days by volunteering to help at St. Clare's. On her first day there she meets the sad and enigmatic Liza Parrish, who she feels drawn to. Despite Liza's reluctance to open up to Victoria the two become friends and Victoria is devastated when Liza dies. After her funeral, which is attended by two members of her family and staff from St. Clare's, as well as Victoria and her husband Neil, she is handed a package from Liza. It is a journal of Liza's life. As Victoria and Neil read the journal a tale of almost unbelievable hardship and heartache unfolds as Liza's previously unmentioned life story is revealed. Jane Butler's fascinating novel