All she had to do now was disappear.The Hermitage Mt Cook, New Zealand, 1946 When the volatile Stella is hired as a mountain guide she vows never to return to a life of domesticity below the snowline. With her mentor Philip and troubled returned soldier Jim she roams the Southern Alps finding freedom in her unconventional career. But Stella and her friends are powerless to prevent a tragedy which will shatter their lives.2019 Veteran Wellington journalist Kath walks out of her life leaving behind some puzzling old mountaineering photographs. Her daughters, small-town reporter Robin and alpine guide Helen, learn of a deathbed confession made by their grandmother Sarah decades earlier. But they don't know if it is linked to Kath's disappearance. In searching for their mother, they uncover the twisted story of the ill-fated Stella, Philip and Jim and expose the lie at the heart of their family.A sensitive portrayal of family relationships while also confronting the expectations society places on women both now and in the past. The mountains, a source of both solace and danger, are hauntingly portrayed as the women strive for freedom, independence and refuge.Paddy Richardson author of Through the Lonesome DarkA multi-layered story that skilfully moves between the decades to solve a mystery disappearance in the Southern Alps. This book has great characters, knowledgeable descriptions of alpine guiding and an totally unexpected ending - perfect!Tina Clough - author of The Chinese Proverb