Elements of Alice Sebold, Harlan Coben - a page turning thriller as well as a deep portrait of a relationship between an estranged mother and daughter Striking new cover for paperback and change of title back to author's - more memorable - original version Shortlisted for the Encore Award 'Tyrell's gift is to keep the thing alive and open; she does not contrive meaning or consolation, but brings us a supremely human and intelligent tale' Lavinia Greenlaw, SPECTATOR 'Perceptive, poised and original... a fine novel' DAILY MAIL 'Every so often a book of such stunning originality comes along that you find yourself forced to re-evaluate long-held judgements and opinions. THE RECKONING does all this, and more. It's a haunting, thought-provoking and perceptive study of human relationships' YORKSHIRE EVENING POST

'[an] intriguing novel...Tyrrell builds a tense and compelling narrative based upon just three people. This is a well-obseved, painful and original story about reunion, reinvention and rough justice.' -- Vanessa Curtis HERALD (18.6.05) 'this short, powerful novel of shifting loyalties and unlikely complicity is a timeless tale of backwoods America, beautifully offset by Cate's diffident, oblique narration.' GUARDIAN (25.6.05)

Patricia Tyrrell is half-English and half-American. After living for some years in the US she is now based in Cornwall.