One November night, highlander Gaddy Patterson strays into the staid lowland parish of Balnesmoor, and stumbles on a dead girl and her baby. Gaddy struggles to scrape a living for herself and the child, and in her struggle against the hatred of the village, she uncovers their long-hidden secrets.

Praise for the trilogy:

'Stirling skilfully offers her readers a story rich with believable characters and colourful settings.' Best Sellers

'Beautifully written - full of the harsh realities and traditional relationships shaping life in early 19th-century Scotland. Highly recommended.' Library Journal