Commuting, house-hunting, in-law trouble: it is the ordinary things that occupy most of us, most of the time. But in these wry, unsettling and unexpected tales, real life is not always what it seems. A commuter dies of rage during rush-hour, and finds that's not the end of the story. A meek middle-aged woman exacts an appalling revenge during afternoon tea. Fairies at the bottom of the garden reveal themselves to be far from enchanting. Two old ladies carry on a bitter vendetta that started in the Blitz and lasts beyond the grave. And the Tree of Knowledge self-seeds in a suburban garden, with devastating consequences. From the prizewinning author of more than 80 historical, romance and detective novels, this unique collection of 14 short stories turns the ordinary into the extraordinary... and back again. "Master story-teller" Daily Telegraph "Assured and elegant" The Times "The master of her craft" Toronto Star