From Publishers Weekly The life of a faithful wife and mother is unsettled after a mysterious man implicates her husband in a young woman's murder. PW suggested that this early novel， "though elegantly written， proves ultimately understated and tenuous rather than emotionally gripping." Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information， Inc. From Library Journal Set in the English countryside， this is the story of one summer's day in the life of Julia Swinton， a middle-class housewife and mother of three young children. Though her marriage is stable， she feels that her life is becoming narrower and that it is too late to change. The day's events pivot around the death of a local woman whom Julia has never met and Julia's odd encounter with the woman's brother. What she learns that day has a disturbing effect on her relationship with her husband， and the two of them must learn to deal with complex and uncomfortable feelings that press and sting just beneath the surface of conscious awareness. First published in England in 1954， this novel is notable for its flawless plotting， superb characterization， and pellucid style， enriched by Mortimer's characteristic subtlety of perception， depth of thought， and keen wit.- Bryan Aubrey， Fairfield， Ia.Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information， Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.