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“A stunning read set aboard the Titanic. Part history, part fiction, all heart.”

Louise Beech

“Immersive, suspenseful and humane, this is a novel to savour.”

Louise Candish

“Breathtakingly good. Beautifully written and expertly paced.”

Simon Lelic

Hidden Depths

Lawrence and Lily don’t know each other, but they’re both boarding the most famous ship in the world: Titanic. Everyone else is full of excitement and joy, but they are struggling to imagine reaching America in five days’ time.

As we head towards the iceberg, Lawrence and Lily battle their own demons on board the ship. Lawrence is mourning the death of his beloved wife, Cissy, whilst pregnant Lily is stuck in a cruel and demeaning marriage to a British aristocrat who has only ever been interested in her money.

A chance encounter sees Lily asking Lawrence for help, as she feels like her life is in danger. But Lawrence refuses, barely able to imagine helping himself. Except fate has a way of forcing our hand when we least expect it. Inspired by the writings of my great grandfather, Lawrence Beesley, who was one of only 13 men in second class to survive the Titanic disaster, this novel explores the idea of different paths in life. It looks at how our personal history is so often mixed with a wider one, but that ultimately the important thing is being true to ourselves and the people we love.

Extract

It was too loud on deck, but it was better than being alone in his cabin. Lawrence did many things to avoid being alone, even though the past year had taught him to hate most people. But sometimes the noise in his brain felt as if it were banging against his skull, desperate for any way to escape. He leant over the railings, feeling the push of bodies all around him, as the boat began to move, gliding off into the water miles below. Two sailours rushed towards where the gangplank was being pulled ashore, gesticulating at the ship, one even throwing his pack to the ground. People missed boats all the time, Lawrence thought, and in missing them who knew what opportunities leached into the sky, gone like puffs of smoke.